Unable To Use, Odisha Returns Rs 8,500 Cr Central Fund Meant For PRIs, Says Dharmendra Pradhan

Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday claimed that the Odisha government has surrendered Rs 8,500 crore after being unable to utilise the fund provided by the Centre for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Inaugurating a National Workshop on Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals in Gram Panchayats in Bhubaneswar, Dharmendra said the Centre had allocated the fund for the PRIs in Odisha as per the recommendation of the 15^th Finance Commission, but the state failed to utilise it.

The senior BJP leader said that implementation of Central schemes will not be successful unless PRI representatives are properly empowered and involved. The Minister also underlined the need for proper utilisation of funds meant for different programmes.

The Union Minister urged the Odisha government to come forward and sign an MoU for the implementation PM SHRI Schools (PM Schools for Rising India) schemes in the state.

Odisha will get as many as 800 exemplary schools under PM-SHRI scheme and receive Central allocation of Rs 1,600 crore for the same, he said.

However, the state government is yet to sign MoU for the purpose, Dharmendra said, requesting the state government to cooperate with the Centre for the development of education sector in the state.

Union Ministry of Panchayat Raj, in collaboration with the Odisha government,  is organising the National Workshop.

Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Odisha’s Panchyati Raj Minister, Pradip Amat and Women and Child Development Minister Basanti Hembram attended the inaugural session of the event.

Responding to Dharmendra’s statement, BJD MP and spokesperson Sasmit Patra said that the Union Minister may not be aware of the functioning of PRIs since he holds the Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship portfolios. “Dejected after the debacle in the Panchayat polls, in which BJD registered a landslide victory and formed Zilla Parishad in all 30 districts, the leaders of the saffron party seem to be feeding him with wrong information,” he said.

Sasmit further said Odisha’s Panchayati Raj department has been winning accolades at the national level for good work and Dharmendra should consult the ministries concerned before making such statements.