NPF claims disparity in fund allocation; seeks detailed clarification

Dimapur, June 1 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) Legislative Party on Tuesday questioned the ruling PDA government over allocation of funds for Covid-19 related activities in the state and sought clarification, a day after the Finance department furnished details of funds mobilised through pro-rata cuts and expenditure incurred on the pandemic.

The party alleged inequitable use of funds provided to the Health department stating that the “pandemic is not only necessarily confined to urban areas alone whereas rural areas have been systematically neglected”. It also asked how much fund the district disaster management authorities were allotted by the NSDMA for Covid activities out of INR 61.60 crore during 2020-21.

The NPF sought to know why the state government allotted INR 30 crore to Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR), a private hospital; whether open tender was floated; and if the government will provide free treatment to Covid patients at the facility.

The party also sought several details like: When and where the decision for LADP deduction was taken; how much of foodgrains had been distributed to poor and needy persons; why there was different pay scale for two batches of medical officers who were appointed on the same day on May 17 this year; how BSL labs in Dimapur and Kohima, and oxygen plants in Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung have been set up and under which funds; and why pro-rata cut amount was spent on some activities instead of procuring Covid-19 vaccines.

Claiming that the Finance department’s clarification was aimed at confusing the people, it demanded a more detailed report on “white paper”. “An inquiry committee comprising of members from all political parties should be set up immediately to enquire into the detailed financial management with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic,” the press release read.

The party also demanded the state government to spell out “its policy on the matter of resultant vacancies from deaths and retirements and appointments thereof given the fact that all appointments are banned”.