Nirbhaya Fund: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) alleges financial anomalies; demands clarification

Public Grievances Department (PGD) of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has alleged financial irregularities with regard to construction of one-stop centres Sakhi across districts under Central government’s Nirbhaya Fund.
PGD co-chairman Kedou Wetsah and member Imkongmeren Jamir pointed out that they detected a difference of over Rs 5 crore from the total sanctioned amount by Government of India and the amount mentioned by the Social Welfare department.
PGD said in response to its RTI application, Social Welfare department stated that it had received Rs 2,48,69,372 for construction of the one-stop centre for 10 districts and Rs 45,88,047 for Dimapur district and the amounts were debited directly to deputy commissioners of all the 11 districts.
After three rounds of hearing, PGD said they received a compiled report on all the one-stop centres on September 1, 2022 from the Directorate of Social Welfare.
PDG mentioned that they had also gone for spot verification of the centres. However, PGD claimed that it found serious financial mismanagement and irregularities on the part of the department while cross-checking documents.
PGD recalled that chief minister and minister in-charge of Social Welfare department had informed Nagaland Legislative Assembly on February 16, 2022 that the department had received Rs 11,36,20,880 from the Union Ministry of Woman & Child Development under the Nirbhaya Fund from 2015-16 to date for 11 districts– Dimapur, Kohima, Kiphire, Longleng, Mokokchung, Mon, Peren, Phek, Tuensang, Wokha and Zunheboto.
PGD alleged that the 11 district administrations were compelled to complete the projects with Rs 5,86,81,767, which was half of the total amount sanctioned by the Union ministry.
It pointed out that as per the chief minister, the total amount received was 11,36,20,880, whereas the RTI reply by the Social Welfare Department quoted Rs 5,86,81,767, which showed a clear difference of Rs 5,49,39,113.
While stating that the party would delve further into the matter, PGD also sought minister in-charge to clarify the difference in the total amount received from the Centre and the money made available to the 11 districts administrations.