The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Rosaiah warns against misappropriation of funds

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Thursday, Aug 19, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Rosaiah warns against misappropriation of funds

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Rosaiah has directed district Collectors to deal ruthlessly with those indulging in irregularities in the implementation of National Rural Employment Generation Scheme.

Addressing district Collectors through a video conference on Wednesday, he said criminal action be taken against those who misappropriated NREGS funds and money recovered under the Revenue Recovery Act.

The State had taken up NREGS works worth Rs.3,000 crore in the first quarter, highest in the country but some stray cases of misuse were reported. If such cases were not dealt with seriously, it would mar the State's reputation, he said.

While good rain brought cheer to farming community, Collectors should ensure that every drop of water was utilised by coordinating with irrigation department officials. Referring to shortage of fertilizer in some places, he said he had already taken up the matter with the Centre to allot fertilizer stocks available in the State for its use first before allotting to others.

On the outbreak of seasonal diseases like diarrhoea, malaria, H1N1 flu due to inundation of low-lying areas, he said special focus should be on sanitation and drinking water quality.

Earlier, responding to the plea of several Collectors to dispatch more urea to the districts, Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy said 1.34 lakh tonnes of urea was available in the State.

Collectors should plan and lift the stocks where they were needed immediately as requirement would not be uniform in all areas.

Responding to Collectors' appeal to fill vacant doctors' posts and paramedical staff, Health Minister Danam Nagender said measures were being taken to fill these posts. In the meantime, redeployment of doctors in needy areas for a limited period and outsourcing of paramedical staff would be allowed, particularly in agency areas.

Women's quota

Mr. Rosaiah has reiterated Congress party's commitment to empower women, including considering 50 per cent quota for them in local bodies.

He was responding to a resolution demanding 50 per cent quota for women in local bodies at a convention of Congress party's elected representatives in Gandhi Bhavan on Wednesday.

Mr. Rosaiah said the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also keen on empowering women and hoped that the relevant legislation would be brought before the Parliament shortly.

“On our part, I welcome the resolution but there is a process involved in its implementation. The issue will be discussed in the Cabinet before a decision was taken,” he added.

He said women should take inspiration from the leadership qualities of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, who was able to effectively ensure smooth running of the UPA government.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president D. Srinivas said he would strive hard to see that 50 per cent quota for women in local bodies was introduced.

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