By IANS,
New Delhi : A parliamentary panel has rebuked the tribal affairs ministry for not aggressively persuading the states to utilize funds for development in Maoist-affected areas.
The Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment presented its report on the ministry of tribal affairs in both house of parliament Thursday.
“In the case of Naxal-affected areas, the concerned state governments are required to identify the requirement of the local people and for this purpose the state governments are sensitized from time to time during interaction,” the report said, quoting the ministry’s clarification to the committee.
However, the central grant of Rs.1,000 crore projected in the budget estimates for special area programmes under special central assistance to tribal sub-plans, was reduced to Rs.399 crore at the revised estimate stage “due to poor offtake by the states for reasons of delayed submission of proposals”.
The committee, however, felt that there should be more visits by ministry officials to the states to help them in formulating proposals so that the entire allocation is utilized.