GUWAHATI, May 7 : Asom and other States of the Northeast have been blamed by the Centre for their failure to use Central funds for various schemes properly and timely. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is one such scheme in which various districts of Assam have been caught on the wrong foot for underutilization of funds. But in a State like Assam, utilization of funds does not mean good performance as the State administration cannot get rid of corruption. According to government sources, in the fiscal 2008-09, the 27 districts of Asom together could not use about 25 per cent of the total Rs 126234.14 lakh NREGA funds, including the unused Rs 27700.44 lakh of the fiscal 2007-08, till March 2009. The Asom districts could use Rs 94967.477 lakh, which is 75.23 per cent of the total Rs 126234.14 lakh in the fiscal 2008-09.
The worst performing district in so far as utilization of NREGA funds is concerned, according to government sources, is Sonitpur that could use only Rs 1095.9 lakh of Rs 4479.6 lakh available for it in the fiscal 2008-09. This is just 24.46 per cent of the total funds available for the district. Likewise, Hailakandi district could use only Rs 2643.19 lakh which is just 48.94 per cent of the total Rs 5400.82 lakh available with the district in the fiscal 2008-09. Then came Barpeta district that spent only Rs 2408.13 lakh of Rs 4849.71 lakh available with it during the fiscal. This is 49.65 per cent of the total funds available with it during the fiscal. The best performing district is Kamrup that could use Rs 259.19 lakh which is 98.54 per cent of the total Rs 262.02 lakh available funds during the fiscal. The amount of funds available for this district is much smaller than that of other districts.
Karbi Anglong district, on the other hand, could use Rs 17200.6 lakh, which is 98.3 per cent of the total Rs 17496.6 lakh available with the district during the fiscal. NC Hills and Chirang districts also could use 97 per cent of the total funds available with them during the fiscal.
Since the use of NREGA funds in the State is not at all transparent and corruption continues to cast its shadow over it, more utilization of funds does not mean good performance. It is due to this reason that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the State Assembly, which has received a large number of corruption allegations against NREGA fund use, is going to conduct a thorough inquiry into the improper use of funds under the scheme.
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