R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, NOV 3
Days after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had sought to release Rs 1,178 crore pending amount under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr L Murugan on Wednesday said the Centre has released Rs 6,255 crore to Tamil Nadu this year under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
- Irregularities to the tune of Rs 246 crore have happened in the MGNREGS scheme in Tamil Nadu
- Under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana, 9.12 lakh metric tonnes of rice and wheat were given to Tamil Nadu under this scheme
- The Minister of State also said that there was no shooting incident by SL Navy on TN fishermen during the AIADMK rule and one incident happened after the DMK came to power.
Speaking to the media at the Press Information Bureau in Chennai, he criticised a letter by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to the Prime Minister, seeking to release the pending amount of Rs 1,178 crore under the scheme.
“More than what was demanded by the Tamil Nadu government, the Union government has on Tuesday released Rs 1,361 crore under the scheme,” he said.
With an aim to ensure that the scheme is implemented with accountability and in a transparent manner, the ombudsman and social audit should have been in place. The Minister said, the Tamil Nadu government has, however, not adopted this.
He said irregularities to the tune of Rs 246 crore have happened in the MGNREGS scheme in Tamil Nadu. “Out of this, only Rs 1.85 crore has been recovered so far.”
He said that though 2,500 lakh mandays were allocated to Tamil Nadu under the scheme, the State government had utilised only 2,190 lakh mandays. Dr Murugan said that Tamil Nadu Rural Development Minister called on Union Rural Development Minister and requested him to release pending funds.
“The Union Minister assured that funds would be released in one week and the promise was honoured. But still, the Tamil Nadu government has created an unnecessary controversy aimed at tarnishing the image of the Centre,” he said.
He said that the External Affairs Ministry is making continuous efforts to ensure the release of 23 Tamil Nadu fishermen from Sri Lankan prison. “Union government is according priority to the welfare of fishermen,” he added.
Dr Murugan said that despite requesting the details of the arrested fishermen from the Tamil Nadu government, the State did not give the information till October 25. “Because of the lethargic attitude of the Tamil Nadu government, release of fishermen is getting delayed,” he alleged.
The MoS said family members of the arrested fishermen met him in Tiruchirapalli on Tueday and he assured them that the fishermen would be released soon. “Their release will not get delayed.”
Recalling that over 600 fishermen were shot dead by the Sri Lankan Navy during the previous UPA regime, Dr Murugan added: “However, after the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi assumed charge in 2014, not even one shooting incident has happened.”
The Minister of State also said that there was no shooting incident by the Sri Lankan Navy during the 7-years of AIADMK rule and one incident happened after the DMK came to power. “Inquiry is being conducted into this.”
He said the Marine Bill will not harm the fishing community in any manner. “The law will be passed after holding consultation with coastal states and fishing associations. All stakeholders will get satisfied.”
Under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana, food grains were being distributed to the poor across the country, the Minister said and added that the scheme has been extended till the end of this month. “9.12 lakh metric tonnes of rice and wheat were given to Tamil Nadu under this scheme.”
Taking all steps to adopt latest technologies to help fishermen
Replying to a query on providing radio telephone instead of satellite phone which hinders communication network between the shore and the midsea during cyclone, air or sea ambulance facility and a dedicated helicopter with a permanent helipad in southern part of Tamil Nadu – Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Kannyakumari, Nagapattinam, Karaikkal and Chennai, Dr Murugan said, the department is taking all steps to adopt latest technologies which are more beneficial to the fishermen.
