Govt. orders probe against NGOs for fund misuse

Govt. orders probe against NGOs for fund misuse

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, May 26: Government has ordered probe against five Non Governmental Organisations (NGO)s (voluntarily organisations) and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri for misuse of funds sanctioned by the Union Environmental Ministry for taking up projects to save the environment. Most of them have received the funds between2003-2008.

Government has constituted a three member State Level Committee to probe the default committed by the voluntary agencies and an independent cell of BGSBU, which is working for the environmental protection.

Agencies include Global Green Peace, Polo View, Srinagar, Human Objective to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Srinagar. J&K State Welfare Institute. Srinagar Khakani Ladles Vocational centre, Anantnag, Society for Ecological and Environmental Problem (SEEP), Srinagar and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri.

Officials said that the committee has probed why the organisations have failed to submit the required documents of the fund utilization and the projects taken by them despite repeated directions from the government.

“After receiving first installment from the central government these organisations have neither approached for subsequent installments nor submitted requested documents for release of second installment, which clearly shows that they have not utilized funds properly”, said an official.

As per the order, the committee examined and proposed the method of recovery of unutilized funds so that legal action could be taken against the organisations. “There are clear directions from the central government to recover the money from these organisations”, said an official.

The committee comprised of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu as Chairman, while Registrar, Co-operative Societies and Concerned Deputy Commissioner of Districts have been nominated as its members.

It is pertinent to mention here that hundreds of NGOs in Jammu and Kashmir are receiving funds from various state and central government agencies for aforesaid, awareness campaigns and involve school and college students in environmental protection.

“This is clear case of default as most of organisations against whom probe has been ordered has never submitted the details of the projects taken up by them”, said a official.