Assam: Allotted funds vanish into thin air http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?id=96691
The amount which the Centre allocated for tribal development in Assam, seems to have gone into building castles in the air. What should have been a workshop buzzing with activity, with tribals translating their art into cane furniture, has become a camping ground for private transporters. The Centre allotted Rs 30 lakh to the Assam Plains Tribal Development Corporation Ltd (APTDC). "The cane has rotted. I tried to save it. The director and branch manager, what they did they know? No training has happened till day," said Phanidhar Boro, watchman. "I can't say how much. This could've been utilised otherwise, but they've dumped it for so long," he added. But the APTDC's director had sent a utilisation certificate for the entire Rs 30 lakh to the Centre. Mahat Ch Brahma, now a Secretary, claimed that Rs 22 lakh was spent on the warehouse and office. Cane was purchased for another Rs 4 lakh, training cost another Rs 2 lakh, and there were miscellaneous expenses of another Rs 2 lakh. False claims? Phanidhar, the caretaker, says the cane couldn't have cost more than Rs 20,000. "It doesn't look like Rs 3 lakh worth cane. A lot of wrongdoing is taking place but we are small people. If we raise this issue we'll get transferred," said Phanidhar. "As per the record the APTDC constructed a warehouse and the balance amount was spent in purchasing cane etc. "Cane is still lying in the godown and since the cane will be damaged we've decide to sell it off," said Jiten Borgiary, Director, Welfare of PT & BC. Already the ministry is under scrutiny. The Centre has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Assam. Last year Rs 40 crore was released for forest villages in Assam but the amount hasn't yet been passed on. In a recently concluded meeting in Shillong, Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh had asked where do funds flowing from the Centre to the NE disappear? The answer perhaps is in the papers. Funds meant for development are invariably diverted, misappropriated and no one held accountable at the end of it. www.koushikhazarika.co.nr
