'Funds meant for minorities fail to reach them'

New Delhi, Mar 9: Funds released by the National Minorities Develpment Finance Corporation(NMFDC) do not reach real beneficiaries or are left unutilised, says a Parliamentary panel. Moreover, the State Channelising Agencies(SCAs), through which the funds are released, did not have proper infrastructure and adequate staff, so were not able to use the money made available to them. Pointing out these shortcomings, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Minority Affairs Ministry in its 31st Report tabled in the Lok Sabha has asked the government to look afresh into the work structure of the SCAs.

The Committee said a number of eligible candidates under various minorities uplift schemes had been deprived of the benefit. During inspections, members of the Committee found that there was poor selection of beneficiaries, delay in documentation and release of funds and inadequate follow up. It said SCAs were the main links between the beneficiaries and the corporation. These agencies had been conferred with responsibility to identify the eligible candidates, seek sanctions, receive funds and ultimately disperse them. ''In order to effectively implement the schemes of NMDC and boost the economic activities of minorities living below povertyline, the Ministry should analyse all the shortcomings in the implementation of scheme and take remedial measures in coordination with state governments,'' it said.

It said it was not satisfied with the government's reply that they had been advising the state governments to strengthen the infrastructure of the SCAs. It asked the government to examine the feasibility of allowing the SCAs to create their own infrastructure and recruit their own staff.

UNI