Kohima, May 26 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the ‘financial management’ of the State government.
In a communiqué issued by its Press Bureau, the NPF alleged that the State government “has not shown any of its collections and expenses proving the financial mismanagement of last year’s state budget 2020-21…”
15% of pro rata cut from non plan collection and how it was spent was never disclosed in public domain, it said, while adding that the increase to 20% for the year 2021-22 from non-plan also remained a ‘secret’.
“Normally, the plan and non-plan chargeable head are under different category of funding and after having exhausted of the non-plan fund from the pro rata cut, there is no sign of any developmental activities from out of the plan fund in the state,” the NPF stated. It said that the biggest mystery that the general public should ponder upon is ‘how and where the government has spent it all’.
Taking a strong exception to the 20% cut from the non-plan in the name of pro rata cut, the NPF said that the increasing collection has been made in the name of COVID-19 expenses, whereas, the Central government has been giving number of fund allocations even during the current financial year. “…how the Government is extravagantly spending is also yet another mystery,” it added. The NPF also observed that the Health Centres in the district headquarters or in the Sub Division in the rural areas have no allocations in the name of COVID-19.
It was learnt that, despite setting up of district disaster management authority in various districts, there were no proper fund allocation which was supposed to be given to various management authority, the NPF highlighted.
It asserted that due recognition and allowances for services rendered by Village Council/Town Ward Council/Municipal Council and various other Civil Societies and NGOs, who are the main warriors in serving the public safety during the pandemic, should be taken care of.
The frontline workers particularly, medical/security/police personnel who have been giving extra efforts should be given extra recognition and allowances too, it stated.
While government should give all its resources and efforts in fighting the pandemic together, instead of taking advantage of the pandemic for their personal benefit, it opined.
The NPF said that the Naga people’s high expectations on Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s leadership to bring developmental changes has been proved wrong ‘time and again’ with the ever increasing continuation of the mismanagement of the state fund and corruption.
In this regard, the party called upon the government to be sincere and serious as worse times are likely to hit the State if the present trend of corruption continues.
