Mokokchung, July 25 (MTNews): The Rising People’s Party (RPP) has asked the Ministry of Minority Affairs to stop the release of Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) funding in the state of Nagaland and has informed the government of India to be aware and careful not to perpetuate the cycle of corruption in Nagaland.
RPP also appealed to the ministry to “set up and conduct independent review on the implementation of all the past sanctioned projects in the State” and, in the meantime, to withhold or stop all funding and allocation of projects.
In a representation to the ministry concerned, RPP said that it has learnt that the state cabinet has forwarded a ‘List of projects to be included under PMJVK 2022-23’ amounting to Rs.297.80 crore. Highlighting a ‘horrible track record’ of the state, saying that it points to systemic corruption, RPP has requested the ministry of Minority Affairs to stop the release of PMJVK funding in the state of Nagaland. The RPP also alleged that the project list was politically motivated.
“The UDA government has openly neglected the most backward area in the state, an area called eastern Nagaland comprising of 6 districts where only 7 out of the 52 projects are proposed to be implemented. There’s not even a single project in the “Aspirational District” of Kiphire, the most backward district in the country,” the RPP wrote.
The political party then asked the ministry to consider the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government’s “horrible track record,” which it said pointed to systemic corruption, including:
· Worst Performing State under 6 parameters (poverty, health, affordable energy, sustainable cities, industries and infrastructure) as per SDGI index of NITI Aayog 2021.
· Worst Performing State as per State Energy and Climate index (SECI) as per NITI Aayog 2022. Nagaland ranks 33rd out of 35 states & UTs.
· Worst Performing State under the National Health Index 2019-20 (NITI Aayog)
· Nagaland University ranked worst in the NE region with scores in the151-200 bands under National Institutional Ranking framework (NIRF).
· Worst and the last ranked State among the “NE and Hilly States” – comprising of 10 states, as per the latest NITI Aayog India Innovative Index 2021 released on July 21, 2022
· Incomplete Nagaland High Court building even after 15 years
· Perpetual deficit state budget with the latest being minus 2212.74 Crore for the year 2022-23.
· Non-payment of salaries of 130,000 government employees, including Teachers, Police personnel, and national mission employees.
· Misappropriation of funds, losses, thefts etc., involving government money up to INR 207.25 Crores, according to CAG report
· 399 incomplete projects with Utilization Certificates (UCs) INR worth 456.2 Crores due for submission, according to CAG
· The only state in India without a Medical college though work started in 2014.
“It goes without saying that almost none of the projects will be implemented. The Government of India under the dynamic vision of PM Modiji is leaving no stone unturned to develop the North Eastern states, and yet the reality is totally different,” the party added.
The party also mentioned that central schemes like MNREGA is an abject failure in the state, where beneficiaries are hardly getting 5 man-days of wages.
It also highlighted the NPCC President’s claim that 21Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) MLAs who recently defected to the ruling NDPP were each paid Rs. 2.50 Crore, money which was apparently diverted from MNREGA fund. “The allegation is yet to be refuted,” it added.
“The Government of India can put a full stop to this madness of corruption prevailing in the state,” it concluded.
PMJVK, the erstwhile Multi-sectoral Development Program (MsDP), is a scheme designed to address the development deficits of the identified Minority Concentration Areas.