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Diversion of funds Sir, During the regime of Syed Mir Qasim, the then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir State, some centrally sponsored schemes were launched by the Government of India in the year 1974-75 for Socio-Economic Development of Gujjars and Bakarwals of the State. When the Gujjars and Bakarwals were declared as Scheduled Tribes in the State of Jammu and Kashmir in the year 1991, 'Special Central Assistance (SCA) for Tribal Sub-Plan, providing 100 percent assistance to the State launched by the Government of India. The assistance was to be used mainly for setting up of income generated, family oriented schemes, to enable the Scheduled Tribes (Gujjars and Bakarwals), to cross the poverty line. The schemes were implemented in the State by District Development Commissioners through various departments in districts under the over all supervision of the Social Welfare Department. The Auditor General of India in his audit report, for the year 1996 to 1998 (submitted to Government in 1999), has detected large scale financial bunglings in financial transactions of Jammu and Kashmir Government. It also includes mis-appropriation and diversion of funds sent by Central Govt under various Centrally Schemes for development of Gujjars and Bakarwals. The short-fall in utilization of available funds ranged between 29 and 67 per cent. The main reason for non-utilizing of Tribal funds was found to be later released of funds by the State Govt to its implementation agency. It seems that central assistance funds aggregating Rs 4.15 crores were released at the fag end in March each year, which resulted short-fall in utilization of available funds. It is further seen in the audit report that Rs 83 lacs were diverted and utilized during 1995-96 to 1997-98 for meeting the expenditure on payment of arrears of pay on account of implementation of 5th Pay Commission Report (Rs 64 lacs) administrative expenses including modernisation of offices (Rs 17 lacs) and purchase of paper copiers (Rs 2 lacs). Over all Rs 1.15 crores were diverted to other schemes which were outside the scope of programme. Rs 80 lacs were released by the Govt in Feb 1997 to Feb 1998 respectively, to J&K SC, ST and other backward classes Development Corporation Ltd for establishment of income generating units. Only Rs 19 lacs were spent and remaining funds released were reported as fully spent in the progress report for 1996-97. The amount was not utilized at all by the Corporation. This resulted in over statement of expenditure during the year 1996-98. Special Central Assistance not allocated to the districts on the basis of Tribal population or any other approved norm. The MLAs and MLCs of the ruling party get the additional funds diverted out of Tribal Plans to their Constituencies in violation of the guide lines. Large scale bunglings have been committed in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry Departments and MNP programme envisaged to undertake work like development of village link roads small community development works, Rs 2.93 crores were spent which were outside the scope of programme. The areas inhabited by Gujjars and Bakarwals are without roads, electricity and drinking water facilities, even after 53 years of independence. The MPs MLAs, and MLCs do not spend funds out of their discretionary constituency development funds in these areas on the pretext that separate funds are being spent under Tribal sub-Plan, meant for Gujjars and Bakarwals, the funds under SCA to TSP are being diverted by the State Government to other sectors, thereby, depriving the poor Gujjars and Bakarwals from basic amenties of life. Yours etc... |
