DIMAPUR, JANUARY 13 (MExN): The Nagaland State VDB Association (NSVDBA) on behalf of the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) benefiting Districts has appealed to the Nagaland State Chief Minister to release the Backward Region Grant Fund for the year 2014-15 by January 2016.
A press note from the association said that the Ministry of Panchayati raj had released the payment of central assistance under BRGF to the state of Nagaland for the year 2014-15 from August 21, 2014 meant for the development of the most developmentally backward areas in Nagaland.
It however lamented that the amount meant for development of poor villages has not been released till date. The association said that on February 24, 2015, “certain amount meant for payment to the beneficiaries of Urban Local Bodies had been released by the Government of Nagaland.” “Whereas, even after a lapse of more than a year, the fund which is meant for poor villagers is still kept pending without asserting any reason, as a matter of fact, the beneficiaries of the above district have been deprived of their legitimate shares,” it lamented.
The association stated that the state government’s nonpayment of sanctioned amounts on time meant for development and various welfare schemes for common people in the villages of Nagaland, has made the various ministries at the centre unable to accord further sanction. It said that this is affecting the developmental activities in the entire state of Nagaland.
It informed that a delegation of the Nagaland State VDB Association met the Chief Minister on October 19, 2015 and had apprised him on the issue. The Chief Minister had reportedly given assurance to release the said amount by November 2015. It however lamented that the assurance has not materialized till date. As such, it appealed to the concerned authority to release the BRGF amount for the year 2014-15, so as to enable the villagers to proceed with various developmental projects which have already been earmarked.
