2 months ago
1
Raising “serious concerns” implicit fund underutilisation, implementation delays and the constricted scope of Central schemes successful the Northeast and West Bengal, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha subordinate Derek O’Brien urged the Parliamentary Standing Committee connected Home Affairs to analyse the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), successful a missive to the panel’s chairperson.
In his submission to the committee chaired by BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Mr. O’Brien, who is besides a subordinate of the panel, flagged what helium called the persistent underutilisation of funds by DoNER.
According to the figures cited by him, 41% of the Budget Estimates for 2024-25 and 36% of the allocation for 2025-26 allegedly stay unspent. He argued that repeated underspending undermined improvement efforts successful a portion marked by economical vulnerability and strategical importance.
Trinamool leaders besides pointed retired the constricted implementation of the “PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana”, the Centre’s rooftop star scheme. The information cited by Mr. O’Brien amusement wide disparities betwixt targets and existent beneficiaries crossed Northeastern States. For instance, Arunachal Pradesh recorded conscionable 1 beneficiary against a people of astir 10,000, portion Sikkim reported 26 beneficiaries contempt a people of 25,000. In the full Northeast, lone 75,407 households were covered retired of a people of 3,06,408, leaving 75% of intended beneficiaries extracurricular the scheme, according to the figures helium shared.
Mr. O’Brien besides pointed to what helium said were manpower shortages wrong the Ministry, noting that 25% of sanctioned posts successful DoNER were vacant. Such vacancies, helium argued, weakened task monitoring and hold money disbursal.
The missive besides flagged pending dues of disaster‑relief that the West Bengal authorities has claimed from the Centre for disasters dating backmost to 2019. According to Mr. O’Brien’s compilation, the full dues magnitude to ₹53,696 crore. He criticised the Centre’s stance that catastrophe absorption is chiefly a State responsibility, saying delays successful the merchandise of Central funds hindered rehabilitation successful disaster‑prone areas.
