SAYA Seeks Action over PRI Funds Misuse in Arunachal Pradesh

CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Save Arunachal Youth Association (SAYA) on Monday urged the State Government for redeposit/recovery of the14th Finance Commission funds distributed in the rural and urban local bodies under the Panchayati Raj (PR) Department.

Speaking to reporters at the Press Club here, SAYA president Likha Rajnik said, "As per the guidelines of the 14th Finance Commission, funds should have been distributed equally among the rural and urban local bodies in the districts based on the area's population. Through Right to Information (RTI) documents, it is known that there is a gross violation of distribution and there is no transparency and accountability of the said fund by the PRIs (Panchayati Raj Institutions)," he added.

Claiming that funds have been "partially distributed", he demanded that the State Government should to issue a white paper on the14th Finance Commission funds distributed in the rural and urban local bodies under the PRIs.

He also demanded a proper investigation into the matter and called for recovery of the entire amount distributed to various districts for equitable re-distribution of funds among all districts

He informed that on November 23, 2020, the association had submitted a representation serving a 10-day ultimatum to the State Government, but no response has been received from the latter till date.

Denying the statement of the State Government spokesperson Nyato Dukam that some funds under the PRD were utilized in providing sanitizers, facemasks and many other necessary materials to the public during years of Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the State Government is trying to fool the common public by issuing such false statements.

He claimed that no funds of the 14th Finance Commission under the PR were used for management of Covid-19 situation.

Rajnik also called for early filing of the charge-sheet by the Special Investigation Cell (SIC) against those officers found guilty in Potin-to-Bopi and Joram to Koloriang road Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) compensation scam.

He claimed that the SIC has not done its job properly, while informing that two officers involved in the scam have re-joined duty as if they have done nothing wrong. Welcoming the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the scam, he appealed the ED for early recovery of misused money and severe punishment to all accused officers of the case.

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