GUWAHATI, Aug 5 - In order to check misappropriation of funds at the grassroots level, the State government will conduct a social audit on all flood-related expenditures at the panchayat level.
Sources at Dispur said that it is the first such attempt in the country to stop flood-related corruption.
The audit will cover all flood damage-related expenditures of all lined departments along with money spent on flood relief and as compensation against loss of human and animal lives. Sources asserted that the initiative, which will start once the floods are over, will pave the way for taking appropriate damage-centric measures in the flood-hit areas of Assam.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan said, �We will carry out the social audit in every place where necessary so that no one could dare misappropriate public money. The whole process will take place with active participation of local public. It will definitely reduce corruption and misappropriation of funds at the grassroots level.�
Mohan stated that his department has already formed flood relief distribution committees in every revenue circle. The main duty of the committee is to look after the distribution system and to study the requirements of flood-affected people.
�We have decided to conduct the audit after observing a number of previous records on misappropriation of funds. It will make all officials concerned careful in spending the money,� Mohan added.
The minister also directed all lined departments to carry out a post-flood survey to assess the damage and to find out the needs of flood-hit people. All departments will have to submit the report within this year.
Pankaj Chakravarty, State Project Coordinator of Assam State Disaster Management Authority, informed that for the financial year 2020-2021, an amount of Rs 85,800 lakh has been allocated to Assam under the SDRF with a Central government share of Rs 77,200 lakh. Till date, Assam has received Rs 38,600 lakh as the first instalment from the Central share.
