Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 18
An amount of Rs. 4000.00 lakhs has been proposed during 2020-21 as allocation of funds under Grants-in-aid to Village Development Boards (VDB) in Nagaland.
During the year 2019-20, an amount of Rs. 3500.00 lakhs has been proposed under this programme for allocation of funds to VDBs to take up income generating schemes as well as infrastructures development in the villages.
Release of fund is awaited, according to the Annual Administrative Report 2019-20 of the rural development tabled in the just concluded assembly session here.
Grants-in-aid to VDBs is one of the major state sponsored programmes being implemented by the department of rural development through the VDBs.
There are 1285 VDBs in the state with 2,50, 315 tax paying households.
Fund under this programme is allocated on the basis of number of tax-paying household @ Rs. 1000 for implementation of developmental activities.
“This is the only programme which ensures the participation of womenfolk in the activities of VDBs by earmarking of 25% of the fund allocated to the village,” the report stated adding that another 20% of the fund is also earmarked for youth programme in all the villages.
This scheme ensures the active participation of all section of the rural people in taking up activities that is suitable to their needs.
In addition, a mandatory scheme called VDB Welfare Fund is in place. Under this sector, funds are deposited @ Rs. 10,000 for villages having 50 households and below and Rs. 200 per household for villages having 51 households and above from the general allocation to mobilize resources for the VDBs to supplement their activity.
The deposits are made annually for a period of 6 years and at maturity the interest accrued will be utilized for the scheme and the seed money is re-invested, creating a continuous cycle of resource to supplement the grants provided by the state.
Under this scheme, income generation is being emphasized to be implemented to improve the economy of the rural areas, the report stated.
