Dimapur, August 19 (MExN): The claims that Nagaland State coffers have no money are “absolutely fabricated.” The Against Corruption And Unabated Taxation, Nagaland (ACAUT) has made this claim in a press release after having looked at a series of documents from the Government of Nagaland’s Finance Department.
As per documents from the Finance Department in possession of ACAUT, a “whopping” amount of Rs. 1188, 79, 10000 /- (1188 Crore 79 Lakh and 10 thousand) was released for MGNREGA payments for the year 2016-17.
While a total of Rs. 591, 10, 80,000/- (591 Crore 10 Lakh and 80 thousand) was drawn between April and October 2016, another Rs. 597, 68, 30, 000 /- (597 Crore 68 Lakh and 30 thousand) was drawn dated May 1, 2017, for the year 2016-17.
Now, according to ACAUT, villages in Nagaland State have been “complaining” that they are being paid only three to four out of 100 “man-day wages in a year.” “The Finance Department and the RD Department seem to be in honeymoon period,” the ACAUT complained.
It also sought a few clarifications from the concerned departments.
“Whether the Finance Department has been indulging in double withdrawals since some of the documents indicates so?”
“Why the Rural Development Department is giving out only 3 to 4 man-day wages in a year despite the colossal amount being released by the GoI?”
“The Finance Department should clarify on the actual amount released by the department for the year 2016-17 for MGNREGA programme since the ACAUT suspects that the amount released is higher than the projected Rs. 1099 Crore.”
Noting that the Chief Minister of Nagaland is in-charge of the Finance Department, the ACAUT also sought clarification on how the money drawn is being utilized.
