Union minority affairs minister Najma Heptulla expressed disappointment over Bihar not availing the funds handed out to the state for various schemes initiated by the Centre.

Heptulla was in the city on Thursday to review the central schemes and its implementation in the state.

When The Telegraph asked feedback on the state, Heptulla said: 'The state government has not availed the scholarship allocated to them under the schemes of pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum means. We are approaching the end of the financial year and state government is yet to avail about 90,000 scholarships. We have found a lot of shortcomings in the state.'?

She added that the state government has utilised only 64 per cent of funds released by the minister (Rs 257 crore out of the total released Rs 405 crore) and it has also not completed the sanctioned project even after four to five years of funds release.

She also cited a few examples such as 43 hostels (2.3 per cent achievement), 358 health projects (16 per cent achievement), 2,283 anganwadi centres (50 per cent achievement), 30,911 Indira Awas Yojana (48 per cent achievement) and 5 ITI (20 per cent achievement).

Heptulla said the state has not shown progress on the projects sanctioned during 2012-13 and 2013-14. Out of 140 schools to be built, the progress has been nil. Similar was the case with anganawadi centres, IAY and ITI polytechnics.

She added that though Bihar has one of the highest number of identified minority concentration blocks (MCB) under multi-sectoral development programme, it has failed to utilise the Centre's funds. 'The state government has utilised only 6 per cent of the funds released by the ministry (Rs 13.91 crore out of Rs 235 crore) in the 12th plan from 2012-13 till date,' said Heptulla.

During her daylong visit she also slammed the state government for not making any progress on the Prime Minister's new 15-point programme (welfare schemes for minorities).