Nagaland Food and Employment Schemes assessed
Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 23
While it is true that Nagaland being one of the underdeveloped states and having a huge rural population enjoys huge monetary and material funds from the central government through the various centrally sponsored schemes, however it is now questioned whether this funds and materials meant for the poorest of the poor people are reaching the targeted people or not. Punitive action by the Supreme Court against the state is on the cards if the centrally sponsored funds are not implemented properly to the concern people of the state.
Speaking to this correspondent, Chimak Keijung highlighted the side-lines of the recent survey conducted by the Tribal Development Unit of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) in collaboration with the office of the commissioners to the Supreme Court during the month of April to November 2009 in the eleven districts of Nagaland, the State Advisor Supreme Court, Chimak Keijung expressed some reservation regarding the implementation of the schemes in the state.
Speaking about the implementation of the NREGA schemes, Kejung while asserting that it should be intensified, and the people should also try to improve food production, water supply, irrigation, soil, horticulture etc through the NREGA scheme. However, Kejung lamented that the people of Nagaland focus on the construction of roads and bridges. In this regard, he said that the Supreme Court will take action if the people do not perform well.
No wonder, at a meeting yesterday at the Chief Secretary’s conference hall, Supreme Court official Harsh Mander IAS, Commissioner expressed that the implementation of NREGA in the state appeared “scandalous” and pointed out that job cards were not given to the people and kept with the secretary of the VDBs in many cases.
Besides, the Principal Advisor to Commissioner Supreme Court, Biraj Patnaik said that the recent survey conducted by the NBCC has shown Zunheboto, Phek and Longlen, the coverage of jobs cards was very low and so was the level of awareness on the provisions of NREGA and the amount that paid does not match with the Master roll and most of the workers does not have the job card with them.
While saying that the Fair Price Shop which is being operated by private individuals should be handed over to the village council, Keijong said that the Supreme Court will also approach the Food Corporation of India, as it is found that FCI is not cooperating with Nagaland Government.
Also advocating the communitisation process in the state, Kejung said that the Anganwatis, fair Price shops in the villages should be communitized. Also encouraging for the communitsation of Old Age Pension Scheme, Keijung disclosed that the ‘court’ is insisting the old age pension to be deposited in the account of the village council so that the amount directly goes to the needy people, without them having to come to the towns to collect the money.
On Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), Keijung said due to the lack of awareness, people are not getting benefited from the schemes, hence the recent survey shows only one women from Tuensang received form Nagaland.
“The government should wake them up and inform about the schemes available for them” said Keijung.
He also said that the Chhattisgarh are performing very well (Computerized) in regard to all the schemes provided by the Government of India, and said the necessity of the Food and Civil Service Department to office of the Supreme court will assist the Food and Civil Service Department, to visit Chhattisgarh latest by the month of July.
He also said that the State Government has invited the Commissioner office to visit once in a month to review the process of working.
The follow up survey will be conducted in partnership with the government involving the rural development, health, social welfare, education, food and civil supplies and the Planning department.
.jpg)
