Mon, April 9 (MExN): Deputy Commissioner Mon, Thavaseelan K on April 7 informed that 50% of Grant in Aid has been released as 1st installment to enable the villages to meet the immediate needs to combat COVID-19.
In this connection, the DC issued an advisory with regard to the utilisation of the funds. The DC directed villages to earmark 10% of the 1st installment for Active Case Search Plan, which will be undertaken by each Village Task Force for COVID-19 in their respective villages. Guidelines for Active Case Search Plan will be released shortly.
Some amount may be utilised for arrangement of water supply, electricity connection, toilet facilities etc. in the Council Hall or any other location which may be identified as an Emergency Quarantine Center for the village, the advisory stated.
Further, villages have been directed to utilise sufficient amount for the purchase of essential commodities, food grains, medicines etc. for immediate urgent use or for storage in a food bank or granary for unforeseen emergencies. It is advised that a major portion be utilized for this purpose so that it would benefit the citizens of the Village.
It is also advised that some amount may be kept aside for meeting necessary expenditures such as transportation charge for lifting PDS rice during this period of crisis (in case the cost is not borne by the Food and Civil Supplies Department).
Kiphire: Deputy Commissioner Kiphire, Sarita Yadav IAS has informed all the village councils & VDBs under Kiphire district that in the wake of recent global outbreak of corona virus disease, the Department of Rural development has decided to release 50% of grant in- aid to VDBs for the year 2019-20 to enable the villages to ensure preparedness against the spread of COVID-19 in their respective jurisdictions.
Inorder to ensure propriety in expenditure as well as efficiency in management and preparedness against the COVID-19 in the villages, suitable advisory have been hereby issued for strict compliance by all the village authorities:
• It shall be incumbent upon the village authorities to ensure that the sanctioned amount be utilized judiciously and solely for the purpose of meeting the immediate needs of the rural population in combating COVID-19.
• They village authorities shall ensure the establishment of quarantine facilities as a suitable location in their respective area of jurisdiction which is preferably away from crowded or populated area but which is also easily accessible.
• The village authorities are expected to coordinate with their respective PHCs/village sub health centres to formulate action plan for effective and time bound completion of setting up of the quarantine centre.
• Quarantine centres once designated must be equipped with basic necessities like masks, hand sanitizers, soaps, separate rooms with beds and pillows, clean bed sheets, towels, most importantly individual quarantine room must also have proper ventilation, portable drinking water, electricity, sanitation and laundry services etc.
• A detailed action taken report along with photographs, bills and statement of expenditure pertaining to this exercise which is duly approved by the respective administration officers must be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner office Kiphire for forward submission to the government.
Longleng: The Deputy Commissioner, Longleng M Shayung Phom has directed to all the BDOs and Village Councils under Longleng district to strictly follow the guidelines for utilisation of 50 % of VDB household Grant-In-Aid (GIA) 2019-20 solely for the purpose of combating COVID-19 and diversion of the fund to any other works or purpose shall not be permitted.
All village should designated a Government School as COVID-19 quarantine center and fund should be utilised for renovation of the rooms, construction of toilets (one toilet per room), electrification and water supply connection in the Quarantine centre.
The remaining fund should be utilised for procurement of basic necessities including essential commodities.
The DC also directed to submit VDB fund utilisation report along with detail report of the work done with photos for prove through their respective administrative officer.
