Union Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav, who is currently on Odisha visit for panchayat poll campaigning, on Saturday said misutilisation of Central funds in Odisha is very disgusting.
“The Centre has been providing adequate funds to Odisha for developmental programmes activities in rural areas. But it is a sad that these funds are not being utilised properly as bureaucrats and ruling party leaders are busy in misappropriating it (funds),” Yadav told reporters here.
He slammed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying the latter despite being aware of the irregularities has remained silent and thereby allowed party men and bureaucrats to indulge in corruption.
“I have information that ruling party leaders and bureaucrats are claiming 20-25 per cent of the financial allocations from the contractors in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Besides, beneficiaries are also being asked to pay Rs 10,000 for each house in the Awas Yojana.Similar claims are also being made to the beneficiaries in the construction of toilets in rural areas,” Yadav added.
Commenting on distribution of PDS items, the Minister said. “The Centre has a very big share in the subsidised rice and wheat. But the Government here has been taking credit by telling the people that the subsidised rice and wheat programm as its own. We will expose this modus operandi of the Odisha Government before our people at doorsteps through our party workers.”