Minority Affairs Ministry led by Smriti Irani scraps 58,456 infrastructure tasks that had been defunct since they had been sanctioned by Congress govt in 2008-2009

The Union Minority Affairs Ministry, led by Union Minister Smriti Irani, has scrapped about 58,456 “units” or small infrastructure tasks that had been sanctioned underneath a centrally sponsored socio-economic growth scheme. As per media studies, the Ministry took this step after it was found that these tasks had been defunct and had by no means taken off even after being proposed almost one-and-a-half a long time again in 2008-09 when the Congress get together was in energy.

An official within the Minority Ministry mentioned, “We have done this in consonance with the states. After having found that these units had not taken off in the past decade, we had asked the states to consider whether they want to drop the proposals altogether.” Interestingly, whereas a number of non-BJP state governments hanker for Muslim votes, it’s pertinent to notice that greater than Rs 4,000 crores are mendacity unutilised with the state governments underneath numerous minority schemes. Even with crores mendacity unutilised, over 50,000 tasks have been defunct for over a decade and a half.

Minority Affairs Ministry evaluations PMJVK tasks

Since 2008-09, the Union Minority Affairs Ministry has reviewed greater than 11 lakh tasks that come underneath the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK). Notably, the Ministry implements this centrally sponsored scheme and develops small models or infrastructure tasks for socio-economic growth.

Under PMJVK, States and UTs ship their proposals to the Union Minority Affairs Ministry. Afterward, they’re thought-about and authorised by the Empowered Committee of PMJVK whereas taking into session with the involved Union ministries. Funds are launched to the states and UTs on a project-wise foundation.

According to studies, officers throughout the Union Minority Affairs Ministry have revealed that a big sum of cash, to the tune of greater than Rs 4,000 crore, stays unutilized with states underneath numerous schemes introduced for minorities.

As per media studies, an official within the Ministry mentioned, “We have now said that future projects will be sanctioned, and funds will be given based on utilisation certificates. We will also map all physical assets under the Ministry schemes through Gati Shakti and geotag them to understand the actual utilisation of funds and the building of infrastructure.”

Between the interval of 2014-15 to 2021-22, an expenditure of Rs 9,37,819 lakh was incurred underneath this PMJVK scheme. More than 50 main tasks had been sanctioned throughout the identical interval and these embody faculty buildings, hostels, and classroom aids.

It is value noting that the Central authorities funds 60% of the undertaking whereas 40% is shared by the state or UT governments. However, the tasks are collectively sanctioned by the state and centre.

Post 2014-15, tasks value Rs 17,65,904 lakh have been sanctioned by the Union Minority Affairs Ministry underneath this PMJVK scheme out of which the central share has been Rs 12,33,688.93 lakh.