Amid the ongoing controversy over the issue of Grand-in-Aid (GiA) for three years pertaining to Peren district, the Peren District VDB Association (PDVDBA) has clarified that Peren district has not received any fund under GiA till date.
PDVDBA through its president, Kinkeriulung and secretary, Izwualung said that the same can be confirmed from the Project Director, DRDA Peren and the Deputy Commissioner, Peren who is the chairman of the district VDB.
The association also dismissed the claims of RD director, Imlimeren Jamir and assistant director, Hisinle Kent that GiA fund for 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2017-18 have been released to all the blocks under Peren district along with Dimapur and Mon before Christmas.
PDVBDA also clarified that apart from GiA, they had also not received any amount against MGNREGA 2018-19.
Meanwhile, the association expressed gratitude to the department of Rural Development for the help and assistance rendered to the villages of Peren district through different schemes, however, reminded the department that the delay in the release of GiA fund has gravely affected minor projects in their respective villages.
The association also claimed that GiA to the VDBs was cleared by the Finance Department in the month of March 2018. In this regard, PDVDBA hoped that delay would be unprecedented as the VDBs along with the Block Officers of the district had submitted the estimate for the GIA in the early part of 2018.
Therefore, the Peren district, the Peren District VDB Association appealed to department to ensure that the “poorest of the poor” in the State were not deprived of their little benefit.
PDVDBA also appealed to the government and the department to ensure timely release of funds so that the beneficiaries can make optimum use of it.