By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 22: The KHADC has not received funds under the untied grant earmarked by the 15th Finance Commission given the implementation of the eGramSwaraj web portal, which seeks more transparency in decentralized planning, progress reporting, and work-based accounting.
The Union Finance Ministry’s Department of Expenditure and the Ministry of Panchayat Raj have directed all the states that payment to the beneficiaries should be made through Public Financial Management System (PFMS) duly integrating with eGramSwaraj applications developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
Replying to the question raised by senior MDC, Martle N Mukhim during the Question Hour on the final day of the budget session, Executive Member in charge of the Development Department, Carness Sohshang said the district council has not received the untied grant for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 fiscals following the implementation of eGramSwaraj.
Sohshang said the ADCs of Meghalaya are not familiar with this new method of submitting the utilization certificates. Hence, the Centre has not been able to release the untied grant for the said fiscals.
Meanwhile, the KHADC’s Chief Executive Member, Pyniaid Sing Syiem said the district council has earmarked Rs 6 lakh for the Sports, Art, and Culture Department annually.
Replying to a question from Sohra MDC Titosstarwell Chyne, Syiem said the council is in the process of collecting data on the status of financial assistance for the Sports and Culture Department.
He said Rs 20,000 has been earmarked for Sports and Rs 30,000 for Arts and Culture annually for every member and the funds are being transferred to the bank account of each MDCs.
He added that the district council did not receive any funds for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 fiscals concerning the Sports, Art, and Culture Department.
On Thursday, Leader of the Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne had said that the KHADC may no longer be able to avail the funds earmarked by the 15th Finance Commission as it has failed to comply with various directives of the Centre.
