Aiyar lambasts MNF for non-utilisation of funds for development

Aizawl, Sep 21 (UNI) Department of North Eastern Region(DoNER) Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today accused the Mizo National Front government in Mizoram of not utilising the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCP).

Speaking to the press at the Aizawl Press Club today, Mr Aiyar said that while the other NE states were rushing to submit their priority lists to get funds from the NLCP, Mizoram had not prepared its priority lists even after six months, in regards to this year.

Responding to queries, the union minister pointed out that while the North Eastern Council(NEC) concentrates on interstate projects, the DoNER deals with separate state projects.

Mr Aiyar also observed that the development in Mizoram concentrated only in the urban areas and emphasised the need for decentralisation of development.

The inclusion of sports in the state list, according to him, is one of the main drawbacks in sports, and advocated for shifting it to the concurrent list, while also emphasising the need to increase the sports budget from the present 0.073 per cent of the total budget.

He said he had high hopes that the UPA Government's National Comprehensive Sports Policy 2007 would bring about a change. He also stressed on the need for the participation of youths in the development process, and also said that plans are on to empower the them and to give them more responsibilities.

He observed that Mizoram has great potentials in sports, but remained unexplored due to the present government's inefficiency.

He also urged that the existing village council system be replaced with the Panchayati Raj system for better and faster development. The Union Minister yesterday inaugurated the state level Panchayat Yuva Shakti Sammelan at the Central Hall here.

Mr Aiyar is on a three-day visit to Aizawl to campaign for the state pradesh Congress in view of the state level polls due for next year.

UNI