Yupangnenla Longkumer
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 5
The Government of India has been sponsoring various schemes for the development of rural areas in Nagaland. To check the implementation of the schemes, the Ministry of Rural Development nominated one state-level vigilance and monitoring committee. In an interaction with The Morung Express committee members, Medokul Sophie and Imtirenba Changkiri said that the tour was successful till now and the team is expecting good results out of it.
On the overall assessment of the implementation of various state and centrally sponsored schemes, the committee members said that the implementations of centrally-sponsored schemes in some cases are more successful in interior villages as compared to some other villages in the “advanced districts” of Nagaland. “Community participation” is more in the remote villages, it was informed.
The committee members also revealed that schemes meant for beneficiaries were not given. Sophie said that in every village the team visited, more than 30 % of the people entitled to pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme have been denied benefit. The condition is the same for beneficiaries of the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension. “Deserving ones are not getting the pension,” Sophie said.
In regard to civil supplies, Sophie said that in some villages they visited, villagers have not received any supplies for more than two years. Changkiri said beneficiaries in some areas who are availing ration are not receiving the stipulated allotted quota.
On the Total Sanitation Campaign, Sophie said it has been implemented effectively in almost all the villages. However, Changkiri said that the materials provided were of inferior quality that almost 50 % of the materials were damaged during transit or construction.
On drinking-water schemes in the rural areas, Changkiri said the materials supplied are of inferior quality. The pipes supplied fall short of the specified dimensions so was damaged easily; they cannot hold the water pressure, he said.
He added that the sockets meant for the pipes were missing from supplied consignment. There were also cases when field officers had to buy sockets from own resources.
Sophie suggested that the Public Health and Engineering Department coordinate with citizens of the respective areas in conserving and protecting forests that have natural springs. “...in most parts of the state, Jhum cultivation has destroyed many natural water sources,” he said.
Likewise, Changkiri said, the Indira Awaas Yojana scheme is not simply about providing bundles of CGI sheets. A beneficiary is entitled to receive Rs 48,500 to build a house and later if he so wants to upgrade, the citizen is given another Rs 15, 000. If needed for more, again, the government has to assist the beneficiary in availing a top-up loan of Rs 20, 000 at 4% interest per annum.
On road connectivity in the rural areas, the committee members said the team visited some roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana project. However, there were cases of “overlapping” of state and centrally sponsored projects. Disclosing that funds were drawn from the State well as the PMGSY, Changkiri added, “...the workmanship is also very poor.”
When queried whether field officers were present during their visit to the villages, Changkiri said the team interacted with most of the officials in concern. However, there were complaints by some villagers that the field officers were irregular in attending to their work.
Although there were anomalies, the team was nonetheless impressed at the officials of the Land Resources Department in all the districts visited. “...in most of the districts, they were impressive and promising though there are exceptions. The field officers were enthusiastic and committed; setting good example to the rest of the departments,” Sophie said.
The team nominated by the Ministry of Rural Development consist of representatives from various political parties and non-governmental organizations. The team is now in Dimapur for inspections. Due to the District Planning & Development Board meeting scheduled for tomorrow, March 6 and other government official engagements, the scheduled inspection has been postponed to next week.
