Covid-19: NPF accuses Nagaland Government of financial mismanagement

Dimapur, May 26 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Wednesday has accused the state government of supposed ‘financial management’ stating that it hasn’t revealed any of its collections or expenses of last year’s budget.

The party said that the spending from the 15% pro rata cut from non-plan collection was not disclosed in public domain, while the 20% increase for 2021-22 from non-plan has “also remained a secret”, a statement from NPF said.

“Normally, the plan and non-plan chargeable head are under different category of funding and after having exhausted of the non-plan fund from the pro rata cut, there is no sign of any developmental activities from out of the plan fund in the state.

“And now, the government had cut 20% from the non-plan in the name pro rata cut. The increasing collection has been made in the name of Covid-19 expenses, whereas, the Central government has been giving number of fund allocations even during the current financial year and how the government is extravagantly spending is also yet another mystery,” it said.

Further, it said that the health centres in the district headquarters or in the sub-division in the rural areas have “no allocations in the name of Covid-19”.

“It was learnt that, despite setting up of district disaster management authority in various districts there were no proper fund allocation which was supposed to be given to various management authority as they are considered the main ground level workers.

“The village council/town ward council/municipal council and various other civil societies and NGOs, who are the main warriors in serving the public safety during this pandemic and for which a due recognition and allowances for their services rendered be taken care of. The frontline workers particularly, medical/security/police personnel who have been giving extra efforts should be given extra recognition and allowances too,” it read.

NPF said that the government should not take “any advantage out of the pandemic for their personal benefit,” but instead give all its resources and effort in fighting the pandemic collectively.