‘No fund will suffice if govt. irresponsible’

Dimapur, Nov. 29 (EMN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has reminded that no matter what extent of funding is given, deficit will increase if government agencies do not exercise fiscal responsibility to spend within the budget, besides maintaining fiscal discipline. The NPCC’s president, K Therie, issued a press release on Thursday stating to have addressed the 15th Finance Commission on Nov. 28, besides submitting a petition requesting implementation of clause 11 of the 16-Point Agreement in respect of funding development and administration. The NPCC stated: ‘In 2003-04, I presented a surplus budget of Rs.18 crore. Today, the admitted deficit is Rs.1,834 cr + civil deposit which together may be more than 3,000 cr. Whatever amount is given or even if a hundred thousand crores are given, unless fiscal responsibilities are taken by respective departments to spend within the budget and fiscal discipline maintained, the deficit will only grow larger.’ On welfare and development, the Congress lamented that the state’s capital, Kohima, was graded the second most ‘unlivable’ city in the country by the Centre. ‘Perhaps Nagaland is the most ‘unlivable’ state in the nation, the NPCC remarked. “The state government has no welfare policy for the people. Farmers do not have minimum support price (MSP) while citizens do not have healthcare policy,’ the state’s Congress chief stated. “Every day, people of about 30 households are reduced to the poorest of the poor because of medical treatment costs. In a year, over 10,000 families are reduced to poverty. Moreover, over 2 lakh of our educated youth are unemployed.” The Congress stated that Nagaland was without any industry, while “district HQ employees have no function” who draw salary through ATM and ‘do not need to go to their district and subdivision postings.’ Likewise, the Congress lamented that government activities are only at Kohima, and no longer in the districts. “Unverifiable projects are paid in full. The yearly assessment carried out by the Planning Commission (PC) is no more as the PC itself has been removed. CBI is in doldrums itself and is not even able to carry out Court directives. Lokayukta has been deliberately delayed while the State Vigilance Commission has turned into a shield for the corrupt. Central Department Investigating agencies deputed have given clean chits to blank cheques on corruption.” Further, the Congress observed that it corruption such as the trend of backdoor appointments and additional funds in the name of liabilities and false bills as was indicated by the Comptroller & Auditor General are not controlled, the question of improvement does not arise. Likewise, the NPCC pointed to the lack of investors in the state because of the fear of extortion from 11 underground factions. “To make collection of commissions in the name of various factions easier, all payments are centralised at Kohima. For resisting extortion, officers were even killed. There is no citizen that doesn’t pay extortion to 11 factions,” the NPCC stated. “Govt. of the day having adopted a policy to merely ‘facilitate and support’ has left the public and executive with no option but to compromise and buy peace, since there is no protection to life and property.” Again, the NPCC lamented that ‘ceasefire ground rules are above the constitution.’ Asserting that Nagaland was no longer ‘in control,’ the Congress asserted that the Ceasefire Ground Rules were ‘without any provisions for food and water.’ “It is a deliberate punishment to the citizens. We have even requested for peace funding but GOI did not paid any heed. 21 years of negotiation without solution is unreasonable. GoI should provide peace funding component on all projects and salaries,” the Congress president added.