From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: Opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath on Wednesday demanded CBI probe into the alleged misappropriation of outlay meant for Aadhar.
An amount of Rs. 7.79 crore has been siphoned off by way of spending less amount to carry out the Aadhar, he said at a press conference.
According to information accessed by RTI, the Union government had allocated Rs 50 against per Unique Indentification Card under the Aadhar but the state government has spent only Rs 25.79 against per card saving almost 50 percent of the budgetary outlay.
Besides, the 13th Finance Commission has offered Rs 6.40 crore for creating convenient facilities for BPL families. “But, there has been no instance of giving money to any BPL family as part of creating convenient facilities”, he said. Nath suspects involvement of many big fishes in the malpractice. “There must be CBI probe to unmask the corrupt Minster and officials so that they could be tried in the court”, he said.
Nath also rubbished CPM’s allegation of deprivation by the Centre. “The Left Front government in Tripura has failed to utilize the available outlay under the national flagship programme MGNREGA,” he said.
According to him, the state has so far received Rs 962.08 crore to carry out the employment generation programme but unfortunately Rs 310.11 crore still remained unspent.
Referring to a review meeting on MGNREGA, Nath said that it was found that of the total budgetary allocation, only 47 percent money has been spent in West district.
Blaming Chief Minister Manik Sarkar for corruption, malpractice and nepotism, Nath further claimed the government has been collecting huge interest by depriving Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers.
Soon after the Union Budget (2011-12), the Centre has released Rs. 12.32 crore to give enhanced honorarium to 19,812 Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers.
“Unfortunately, the state government has not paid the enhanced honorarium to them yet leading to save of Rs. 38.46 lakh as interest”, he said. Following a specific complaint, the Centre has sought a status report from the state government on the entire mater, he added.