Councils violating financial rules; Fund disbursed to Councils (2014-2019)

 Mising Autonomous Council Rs 330 cr

 Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council Rs 248 cr

 Deuri Autonomous Council Rs 101 cr

 Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council Rs 134 cr

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Just to keep leaders of smaller ethnic communities in tune with the government, the State has a number of autonomous councils, development councils and development authorities. The government doles out grants to such councils for the development of their respective communities. However, apart from lack of development in most of such communities, such councils have the dubious distinction of not submitting their annual accounts to the authority concerned.

Financial irregularities by such councils have not escaped the notice of the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General). During the past five years from 2014-2019 the State government pumped in Rs 1,176 crore to six autonomous councils, 31 development councils and 24 development authorities. However, the CAG caught them on the wrong foot for not submitting their annual accounts. The CAG said, "Non-submission of accounts by autonomous councils, development councils and development authorities is 'violative' of prescribed financial rules and directives. This points to inadequate internal control and deficient monitoring mechanism of the State government."

The CAG said that account submission must be time-bound.

During the five-year period the Lalung (Tiwa) Autonomous Council got Rs 180 crore, Mising Autonomous Council got Rs 330 crore, Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council got Rs 248 crore, all the 31 development councils got Rs 77 crore and the 24 development authorities got Rs 5 crore.

The State government also formed three more autonomous councils in August 2020. The act of the government forming such councils and doling out funds for them without keeping a close watch on the misuse of funds is tantamount to wastage of public money.

There are allegations against such councils for misuse of funds, and in some cases investigations are underway.

The CAG further said, "The State government entrusted the audit of six autonomous councils and 19 development councils to the CAG in October 2013. The CAG, however, could not take up the audit due to non-finalization of terms and conditions of the entrustment as well as non-submission of annual accounts. The government has not entrusted the audit of the remaining 12 development councils and 24 development authorities to the CAG."

However, in January 2020 the Finance department assured the CAG that the government would complete all formalities for formal entrustment of the autonomous councils, development councils and issue direction to entities concerned to submit their accounts without delay.

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