Senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra on Sunday criticised the State Government for taking credit by hijacking the Centrally-sponsored schemes and publicising them as its own.
Talking to mediapersons here, Mohapatra alleged that the State Government has not framed any specific rules for implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
“The State Government has neither formed any redressal committee nor set up any district-level committees to look into the grievances of the beneficiaries as per the provisions of the Act,” said Mohapatra.
He further pointed out that the State Government took two years to implement the scheme. The Centre had given September 30 as the deadline for implementation of the NFSA, but the State Government began implementing in only 14 districts which shows its incapability, he remarked.
“While the Centre fulfilled its obligation towards the State, the State Government has utterly failed to perform well. But the State’s ruling party has been parroting the same old hymn of ‘Central neglect’ which is totally funny and absurd,” he opined.
The BJP leader said the State Government is used to take the credit by hijacking the Centrally-sponsored schemes and implementing them as its own sponsored schemes. “The State Government should refrain from such unethical practices and stop blowing its own trumpet,” he warned.
Mohapatra said as much as Rs 6,000 crore returned to the Centre as the State Government could not utilise the fund. In 2013-14, the State failed to utilise Rs 12,755 crore and could not submit utilisation certificate (UC) of Rs 7,939 crore, he added.
“Those who are doing sloganeering about ‘Central neglect’ during their party events should reply to this,” Mohapatra demanded.