Jammu, Aug 27: A performance review by the Union Ministry of Rural Development has shown dismal performance of J&K on Indira Awaas Yojna (IAY) - one of the key poverty alleviation programs of the Central Government - where 77 percent of the allocated funds remained unutilized during the last fiscal.
The IAY, operationalized from 1999-2000, is the major scheme for construction of houses for the poor, free of cost. The Union Ministry of Rural Development provides financial support to the state Government and the project is implemented through the state Rural Development Department.
As per the Union Ministry, Rs 63.94 crore was sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir under the program during the year 2011-2012. The allocation was made on the basis of the demands projected by the state, sources said, adding that out of the total allocation the ministry released an amount of Rs 58.30 crore to the state for the program implementation.
However, the state Government was able to utilize only 23.25 per cent of the total allocation. “The performance of the program in Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2011-12 was not satisfactory,” the ministry has recorded in its report.
During the previous year (2010-11) the state Government was able to utilize 54.70 per cent of the total allocation (Rs 65.40 crore).
Official sources said that this year the Union Ministry has allocated Rs 70.80 crore under IAY, out of which Rs 33.84 crore has been released by July 31, 2012. “Till date the state has shown expenditure of Rs 1.72 crore under this plan during this year,” sources said.
Sources said that out of total 22 districts, first installment under the program has been released to eight districts without any condition. However for 10 districts- Islamabad (Anantnag), Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Jammu, Kupwara, Rajouri, Ganderbal, Kishtwar and Reasi - the Union Government has released the funds with some conditions, which the state has been asked to complete before seeking the release of second installment.
“Two districts of Doda and Srinagar have not availed second installment of 2011-12 due to non-submission of proposals/clarification/documents of previous year”, sources said.
Under Special Package (Border), the Central Government had released funds to eight districts- Baramulla, Kupwara,Kathua, Kargil, Poonch, Leh, Jammu and Rajouri during the year 2008-09 and 2nd installment for most of the districts, except Poonch and Kathua, has also been released.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST