Central funds for Kalahandi returned unspent;In such a situation who is to blame, the Orissa or the centre?

Following is a report from The Pioneer:

The Naveen Patnaik Government often said that the Union Government is neglecting the State and not sanctioning adequate funds. But the developmental funds in reality are remaining unspent and are returned.

With funds especially in the most backward district of Kalahandi remaining unspent has exposed the failure of the State Government. From this, it can be ascertained how successfully developmental programmes for the poor are being implemented.

Kalahandi, one of the most backward districts of the State is always in news for wrong reasons like deaths due to starvation and selling of children which have created a stir in the country. The KBK region was formed because of this. Many announcements were made but many people are still leaving the district to work was migrant labourers. The Central Government had sanctioned funds for implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Over Rs 51.42 crore, including the previous year’s unspent money was given to the district. But due to the failure of the district administration Rs 20 crore has been returned and the Government in not bothered and claimed that as it is a labour-oriented scheme, money was returned due to less requirement of labour.

While thousands of people are leaving the district the Government says there is requirement of labour in the district and nobody was made accountable for the unspent funds. In such a situation who is to blame, the State or the Centre, asked intellectuals.