Guwahati, Nov. 11: The newly appointed Union minister of state for tribal affairs, Ranee Narah, has sought reports from all the northeastern states for non-submission of utilisation certificates for centrally-sponsored tribal welfare schemes.
“I have asked the respective departments of the state governments to submit a detailed report on the reasons for non-submission of utilisation certificates before November 18,” Narah, a Lok Sabha MP from Assam’s Lakhimpur constituency, said here this evening.
Narah said she had been informally told by the governments that they have not been able to submit utilisation certificates for funds released to the Sixth schedule areas because of non-submission of the utilisation certificates by the autonomous councils.
“After I receive the reports, I will analyse them and take all possible steps to ensure that utilisation certificates are submitted on time so that central funds are not withheld on that account,” she said.
She also expressed concern over the slow progress in the implementation of some tribal welfare projects in the region. “I was surprised to know that a tribal-dominated state like Mizoram does not have a tribal welfare department. The Mizoram government has informed me that the social welfare department is implementing the tribal welfare schemes in the state.”
“However, I feel that a full-fledged tribal welfare department is required for proper implementation of the centrally-sponsored tribal welfare schemes and I will take up the matter with the Mizoram chief minister,” Narah added.
She also held a meeting with the officials of the Brahmaputra Board today to review the progress of flood and erosion control projects being implemented by the board. Narah was particularly worried about the floods and erosion at Majuli, which is part of her constituency.
“The board officials have told me that the flood and erosion management has been taken up in Majuli and Dhola-Hatighuli and will be completed by May 2013,” she said.
She said if there has been delay in completion of the work because of negligence on the part of some contractors, they should be blacklisted.
