Rautahat, July 5

Golden Thousand Days, a government programme that was introduced in 24 village development committees in Rautahat, is faring very badly, thanks to the alleged lust for commission among the district development office staff.

As of now, over 20 million rupees of the programme launched with a view to saving pregnant women of impoverished and marginalised communities and babies up to two years from malnutrition is likely to freeze as the persons responsible for releasing the fund at the district development committee are sitting on the fund at a time when the fiscal year is drawing to a close.

It is said that the programme under the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development has been rendered ineffective as the concerned DDC officials have allegedly sought commission from the groups formed in the concerned wards for implementation of the programme, to release the necessary fund.

The programme funded with loan and grant from the World Bank was launched in the first phase in 12 VDCs in October of 2012. The programme was launched in Banjaraha, Bishrampur, Brahmapuri, Fatuwa Maheshpur, Gamhariya Parsa, Inarwari and Laxmipur Belbichhawa.

Later, the programme was extended to additional 12 VDCs.

The DDC had, in April, released around 59.21 million rupees for 21 VDCs. The office, however, is yet to release the third and last installment of the fund so far.

According to the concerned directory, the DDC office will release the fund in three instalments. While around 30 and 50 per cent of the fund will be released in the first and second instalment respectively, the third instalment is some 20 per cent of the total fund.

On his part, Subhash Thakur, focal person at the DDC, refuted the charge that the programme had suffered due to the commission factor.

“As the amount goes directly to the account of the concerned VDC, the allegation that the programme is suffering on account of the demand for commission doesn’t hold water,” Thakur reasoned, adding that the programme had suffered due to the fact that a single village secretary is looking after up to five VDCs.

Meanwhile, the programme is yet to start in Bishrampur, Laxmipur Belbichhwa and Pipariya Paroha owing to political bickering over the formation of groups in the villages.