NGOs Forum alleges anomalies in distribution of fund by DoNER

The North East NGO Forum has shown concern over distribution and diversion of funds for development of the North Eastern region of the country by Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). Addressing the media persons, Paresh Chandra Baishya, the general secretary of the organization, alleged that the funds for development of the north eastern region is being given to the organizations of other states by the ministry of North East Region’s Development (DoNER). Giving a few instances he said that during the year 2008-09, rupees twenty three lakhs were given to the Government of India’s Administrative Staff College, Hyderabad. During the same period Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata got Rs.58.50 lakhs and Hyderabad based an organization received Rs.45 lakhs for establishing training institute for small scale industries.

The vital point he raised was that for vocational training of women Kolkata, Allahabad and Bengaluru institutions were given Rs.35.28 lakhs that too for training like dress making and hair cutting etc. Besides, the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata was given Rs.1.07 crore and Institute of Toy Making, Kolkata, Rs.40.20 lakh. A Gwalior based institute was given Rs.73.80 lakhs, Chennai based organization Rs.34.42 lakhs and Mumbai based IDEMI was given Rs.2.71 crore. Similarly, during the year 2007-08 also the DoNER ministry had given the funds meant for NER to other states.

The Forum wanted to know from the DoNER minister, Bijoy Krishna Handique to explain the justification of such distribution of funds and reply why Kolkata based IIM was entrusted the responsibility of training of youths from Northeast region, when Shillong in the North Eastern Region has already got a high standard IIM and despite existing Tura (in Meghalaya) based Regional Vocational Training Institute (RVTI) why this region’s students were asked to go to Kolkata, Bengaluru and Allahabad for such trainings. Besides, he wanted to know why for the training of Desk Top Publishing (DTP), hair cutting like simple training for which Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) is already here at Changsari near Guwahati and for these trainings the fund were given to Chennai based organizations.

The NGO Forum has threatened to spearhead a strong agitation by support of various non-government organizations of the region, if the DoNER fails to give satisfactory answer in time. It has also demanded from the members of the parliament from this regions to stand against the injustice met to the people of the region and help the development of North Eastern Region speedily.