'MNERGS, PMGSY a scope for development in NE'

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Sept 9: There is a scope for the Northeastern States to further go forward by using the Centrally sponsored schemes like the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yoj (PMGSY) and the Mahatma Gandhi tiol Rural Employment generation scheme (MNREGS), stated Union Minister of Rural Development, Choudhury Birendra Singh even as he put the blame on the respective State government for lapses in utilizing the funds in a time bound manner.

Asked by The Sentinel on the failure of the Northeastern States to live up with the phases under the PMGSY, Choudhury Birendra Singh said, “These are the Central government flagship programmes and the assessment on the utilization of funds channelized through the agencies are assess by the State Government.”

In reply to another question on how the Central government can make the State governments liable for the discrepancies and lackadaisical implementation of the centrally sponsored schemes amounted to several crores of rupees, the Union Minister simply dodged. However, he was categorical in saying that the quality of the work taken up should matched the funds provided by the Union Government.

He added that the Union government has no say after releasing the funds, even as he added that the present dispensation has put no condition to the Northeastern States. Instead, he bask around the NDA initiatives to provide special funds to the Northeast by saying, “They have come forward for more funds to further the programmes under PMGSY and MNREGS.”

Notably, all the states have lacked behind in implementing the PMGSY. Information received by The Sentinel is that most of the States are in the 5th phase when the Country has entered the 8th phase. Insinuations going the round are that certain States the 100 days work (MNERGS) has not fructified due to fraudulent practices by those at the helm of affairs. Meghalaya alone has a sordid tale to rrate on the exploitation of the MNREGS.