The Rising People's Party (RPP) has appealed to the Government of India, particularly the Ministry of Minority Affairs, to stop the release of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) in Nagaland. The party appealed after learning that the state cabinet has sent a list of projects to be covered under PMJVK 2022-23 to the Ministry of Minority Affairs for sanctioning an amount of Rs 297.80 crore.
Meanwhile, the party said, the funding or allocation of projects may be stopped or withheld. It said that the Government of India can put a complete full stop to this "madness of corruption prevailing in the state". The RPP further urged the Center to be aware and careful not to perpetuate the "circle of corruption" in the state. RPP appeals to the Ministry to set up and conduct an independent review on the implementation of all previous sanctioned projects in the State:
- Worst performing state under 6 parameters (poverty, health, affordable energy, sustainable cities, industry and infrastructure) as per SDGI index of NITI Aayog 2021.
- Worst performing state according to State Energy and Climate Index (SECI) as per NITI Aayog 2022.
- Nagaland ranks 33 out of 35 states & Union Territory
- Worst performing state under National Health Index 2019-20 (NITI Aayog)
- Under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Nagaland University is ranked the worst in the Northeast region with a score in the 151-200 band.
- According to the latest NITI Aayog India Innovative Index 2021 released on July 21, 2022, Nagaland is the worst and last ranked state among the "Northeast and Hill States" - comprising 10 states.
- Nagaland High Court building is incomplete even after 15 years.
- The perpetual deficit of the state budget for the year 2022-23 is less than the latest minus 2212.74 crores.
- Non-payment of salaries of 130,000 government employees, including teachers, police personnel and employees of the National Mission.
- According to the latest CAG report, misappropriation, loss, theft etc. involving government money is Rs 207.25 crore. Meanwhile, the CAG report also states that 399 projects are lying incomplete. In addition, there are dues for submission of Utilization Certificates (UC) worth Rs 456.2 crore.
- Nagaland is currently the only state in India that does not have a medical college, although the work started in 2014.
Eastern Nagaland comprises 6 districts, where only 7 out of 52 projects are proposed to be implemented. There is not a single project in the "Aspirational District" of Kiphiri, the most backward district of the country. Under the dynamic vision of PM Modi, the Government of India is leaving no stone unturned in the development of North Eastern states, yet the reality is different. Given the above, the Rising People's Party (RPP) appealed to the Union Ministry as follows:
I. The Ministry may set up and conduct an independent review on the implementation of all previous sanctioned projects in the State.
ii. In the meantime, funding/allocation of projects can be stopped or withheld. The government of India can put a complete stop to this madness of corruption prevailing in the state.
The letter, signed by RPP vice-chairman Vitho Zao and secretary Akum Longkumer, alleged that central schemes like MGNREGA are a major failure in the state, where the beneficiaries are barely getting five man-days of salary. The party quoted Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee chief K Therie as saying that 21 MLAs of the Nagaland People's Front, who had recently joined the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, were paid Rs 2.50 crore each, which "MNREGA" fund was diverted. The RPP party said that the allegation has not been denied yet.