Aiyer clarifies Rajiv's statement over govt funds

New Delhi, Dec 6 (UNI) Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer today sought to clear the misunderstanding about former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's reported statement that ''out of one rupee, only 15 paise reached the common man,'' and said the remark meant to convey that out of Re one, 85 paise were spent in administrative activities and only 15 paise reached the common man.

Intervening during the short-duration discussion on misuse of funds meant for schemes under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister said the statement did not mean that 85 paise were lost in corruption, as had been reported.

The former prime Minister was quoting from a 1989 report which said out of one rupee, 85 paise were spent on administering the funds and only 15 paise reached the poor.

If those 85 paise reached the common man, things would be better, he had said.

''Therefore, it was not corruption,'' Mr Aiyer clarified.

He said Mr Gandhi had stated that if these 85 paise would be given directly to Panchayats, it would reach the real beneficiaries.

UNI