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| Secretary blames software, claims 87 percent spending | | J&K's dismal IAY, just 5.02 percent funds utilized | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
Jammu, Feb 9: Rebutting the dismal figure of 5.02 percent funds utilization, State Rural Development Ministry claims of having utilized more than 87 percent of Rs. 4250.451 lakh funds available with it under the Centrally sponsored Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY).
According to Union Rural Development Ministry, Jammu and Kashmir could utilize just 5.02 percent of the funds allocated to it. Of the total Rs. 4250.451 Lakh, State Rural Development Ministry could spend just Rs. 213.326 lakh till December 2012. State Rural Development Ministry could not spend even a single penny of the allocated amount in 10 districts namely Anantnag, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kargil, Kishtwar, Kulgam, Rajouri, Shopian, Srinagar and Udhampur.
It spent a little more than zero percent in six districts namely Budgam (4.57 percent), Baramulla (7.37 percent), Doda (1.05 percent), Jammu (0.13 percent), Kupwara (0.53 percent), Leh (0.28 percent) and Poonch (0.8 percent). The department went above 10 percent in five districts which include Kathua (23.7 percent), Pulwama (10.51 percent), Ramban (54.89 percent), Reasi (28.22 percent) and Samba (53.19 percent).
The State Ministry maintains that the information posted on the website of Union Ministry of Rural Development is not factually correct. Blaming 'Awasoft' software for goof-up in the figures, Secretary of the Ministry Farooq Peer said "Figures reflected on the website of Union Ministry are not correct. We have expended more than 87 percent of funds available. They have seemingly not updated the information."
He further blamed poor internet connectivity for the mismatch in figures. However, an official of Union Rural Development Ministry who wished not to be quoted said that they regularly update the figures. "This is non-sense. How could you blame software for such a massive goof-up? We have a dedicated team of officers who remain in regular touch with State Ministries to update this critical information regularly," added the officer.
Regarding J&K's claim of figures being wrong, the officer said that the website hosts data from 32 States and Union Territories. "We have not received any complaint of information being incorrect. Even J&K has not complained to us about the data being incorrect. I am hearing from you," the officer said. He concluded by saying that we can revisit the information available with us only if J&K lodges a formal complaint of wrong projection of funds utilized by them.
Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) was launched in May 1985 as a sub-scheme of Jawahar Rozgar Yojana. It is being implemented as an independent scheme since January 1, 1996. The Indira Awaas Yojana aims at helping rural people below the poverty-line (BPL) belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of full grant.
From 1995-96, the IAY benefits have been extended to widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action. Benefits have also been extended to ex-servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces as long as they fulfill the normal eligibility conditions of Indira Awaas Yojana. Three per cent of funds are reserved for the disabled persons living below the poverty-line in rural areas. Since 2006-07, IAY funds are also being earmarked for minorities. |
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