<p>Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil on Wednesday said that official apathy has resulted in the State losing funds to the tune of Rs 1,400 crore under 12 Union government-sponsored schemes.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to mediapersons after a meeting of the State-Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, Patil said that in the financial year 2012-13, the State received Rs 6,275 crore from the Central government. “However, only Rs 4,875 crore was spent on the 12 Central government-sponsored schemes,” he disclosed.<br /><br />The 12 Central schemes include Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA).<br /><br />While the officers tried to justify the lapses, the six public representatives, including MPs and MLAs, were ‘furious’ over the laxity in spending the grants, he said. <br /><br />The committee has now pulled up the officials and said that allocations by the Centre must be spent within the given time frame on judiciously chosen projects, he added. <br />Patil said that the committee also took note of cases where there were large-scale misappropriations and sought clarity on the matter. <br /><br />Hike in honorarium<br /><br />Under the NBA, the State government has decided to enhance the monthly honorarium of the anganwadi and Asha workers from Rs 75 to Rs 150. <br /><br />The minister said the hike in honorarium was to increase their involvement in maintaining cleanliness in rural areas.<br /><br />Village committee<br /><br />The minister said that the department had ordered setting up of the Village Water Supply and Sanitation Committee (VWSSC) in every village across the State. <br />The proposal was cleared by the Cabinet in its last meeting and the rules have been framed for the committee.<br /><br />Accordingly, the department has said that president or the senior most member of Gram Panchayat will be chairperson and the next senior member vice-chairperson. In total, the VWSSC will comprise 12 members, and six of them will be women. <br /><br />“The committees will be the nodal agency for maintenance of drinking water facilties and cleanliness of toilets in the villages,” he said. <br /></p>
<p>Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil on Wednesday said that official apathy has resulted in the State losing funds to the tune of Rs 1,400 crore under 12 Union government-sponsored schemes.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to mediapersons after a meeting of the State-Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, Patil said that in the financial year 2012-13, the State received Rs 6,275 crore from the Central government. “However, only Rs 4,875 crore was spent on the 12 Central government-sponsored schemes,” he disclosed.<br /><br />The 12 Central schemes include Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA).<br /><br />While the officers tried to justify the lapses, the six public representatives, including MPs and MLAs, were ‘furious’ over the laxity in spending the grants, he said. <br /><br />The committee has now pulled up the officials and said that allocations by the Centre must be spent within the given time frame on judiciously chosen projects, he added. <br />Patil said that the committee also took note of cases where there were large-scale misappropriations and sought clarity on the matter. <br /><br />Hike in honorarium<br /><br />Under the NBA, the State government has decided to enhance the monthly honorarium of the anganwadi and Asha workers from Rs 75 to Rs 150. <br /><br />The minister said the hike in honorarium was to increase their involvement in maintaining cleanliness in rural areas.<br /><br />Village committee<br /><br />The minister said that the department had ordered setting up of the Village Water Supply and Sanitation Committee (VWSSC) in every village across the State. <br />The proposal was cleared by the Cabinet in its last meeting and the rules have been framed for the committee.<br /><br />Accordingly, the department has said that president or the senior most member of Gram Panchayat will be chairperson and the next senior member vice-chairperson. In total, the VWSSC will comprise 12 members, and six of them will be women. <br /><br />“The committees will be the nodal agency for maintenance of drinking water facilties and cleanliness of toilets in the villages,” he said. <br /></p>
