Nagaland's Youth Resources & Sports deptt.’s spending under scanner

The spending and ‘projects’ of the Youth Resources & Sports department amounting to more than Rs.500 crore in about seven years has come under the scanner of a Right to Information (RTI) disclosure.

Some aspects of it include “unaccounted or nonexistent or fictitious” projects worth more than 10 crore, updates from citizen RTI activists stated on Monday.

The citizens, all former Sumi Students’ Union (SKK) leaders, have observed a need for “thorough analysis and probes” in the ‘random selection and allocation of projects based on the personal whims and fancies of the authorities.’

Details of funds from 2009 till 2015 for said department were contained in a press release issued by former SKK leaders Aheto V Yeputhomi, Hukavi T Yeputhomi, Kitoho S Rotokha, and L Khevishe Achumi and S. Zhevihe Sumi. The information was stated to have been combed by an RTI application. 

According to the Youth Resources & Sports department, a staggering amount of Rs. 522,93,37,000 was spent during the financial year 2009-2010 to 2014-15 for 72 different projects or schemes in the entire state of Nagaland.

“This was disclosed to the undersigned former SKK leaders in the RTI application. Out of the total projects / schemes implemented, 5 projects are either unaccounted or nonexistent or fictitious for the total amount of Rs. 13,38,00,000/-(Rupees thirteen crore, thirty eight lakh) all released,” the citizens stated.

“Dimapur district availed 24 different projects out of which 17 projects / schemes were allotted to Sovima village alone for an estimated amount of Rs. 91,08,37,000 (ninety one crore, eight lakh, thirty seven thousand); whereas, for district headquarters Tuensang and Longleng got 2 projects each for Rs. 2.50 crore each,  Zunheboto 2 projects for Rs. 2.35 crore, Wokha 2 projects  for an estimated amount of Rs. 1.50 crore and Kiphire got 1 project for Rs. 2.00 Crore,” the press release stated. (See table).

Project / scheme allocation under the Youth Resources & Sports: Districts, Nagaland (2009-2010 to 2014-15 financial year)

SL. NO	DISTRICT	NOs. PROJECT	SANCTIONED AMOUNT	AMOUNT RELEASED	BALANCE
1	DIMAPUR	24	Rs. 416,72,37,000	Rs. 218,98,59,000	Rs. 197,73,78,000
2	MOKOKCHUNG	12	Rs. 8,30,00,000	Rs. 7,80,00,000	Rs. 50,00,000
3	KOHIMA	10	Rs. 58,84,00,000	Rs. 51,06,00,000	Rs. 7,78,00,000
4	PHEK	5	Rs. 9,74,00,000	Rs. 9,45,00,000	Rs. 29,00,000
5	PEREN	4	Rs. 3,40,00,000	Rs. 3,40,00,000	NIL
6	MON	3	Rs. 3,50,00,000	Rs. 3,50,00,000	NIL
7	TUENSANG	2	Rs. 2,50,00,000	Rs. 2,50,00,000	NIL
8	LONGLENG	2	Rs. 2,50,00,000	Rs. 2,50,00,000	NIL
9	ZUNHEBOTO	2	Rs. 2,35,00,000	Rs. 2,35,00,000	NIL
10	WOKHA	2	Rs. 1,50,00,000	Rs. 1,50,00,000	NIL
11	KIPHIRE	1	Rs. 2,00,00,000	Rs. 2,00,00,000	NIL
12	NON EXISTING PROJECTS	5	Rs. 13,38,00,000	Rs. 13,38,00,000	NIL
		72	Rs. 522,93,37,000	Rs. 316,62,59,000	Rs. 206,30,78,000

*** Total nos. of project / scheme: 72

*** Total sanctioned amount: Rs. 522,93,37,000 (Rupees five hundred twenty two Crore, ninety three lakh, thirty seven thousand)

*** Total amount released: Rs. 316,62,59,000 (Rupees three hundred sixteen Crore, sixty two lakh, fifty nine thousand)

*** Total balance amount: Rs. 206,30,78,000/- (Rupees two hundred six Crore, thirty lakhs, seventy eight thousand)

*** 5 projects / schemes unaccounted for an amount of Rs. 13,38,00,000 (Rupees thirteen Crore, thirty eight lakh)

These facts, the citizens stated, are the “hard realities of the (un)judicious implementation of developmental projects implemented by the successive government for the overall round development of the Sports infrastructure in particular in the state.”

“Until and unless thorough analysis and probes are initiated in the random selection and allocation of projects based on the personal whims and fancies of the authorities concerned and the policy implementations are completely overhauled in the department, Nagaland state can never ever produce eminent sports man and women even for centuries to come,” the press release stated.

The citizens reminded that “such policy implementation, purely for self aggrandizement in the name of development” had marginalized the Naga society ‘beyond repair and that equal distribution of developmental projects, wealth, opportunities and the failure to adhere the professed policy of overall round development in the state without any discrimination has completely dejected the upcoming generations on their future and on any government of the state.’

(Al Ngullie, August 29, 2016; Eastern Mirror)

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