Tripura's failure to spend central funds cause of backwardness

More than 20% of the funds on an average remained unspent in the state as a result of which people remained backward, Meena the union minister of state for finance told a mass gathering organised by the opposition Congress here.

"On one hand money remains unspent, on the other hand there is huge financial corruption, so money is not reaching the people and development is not taking place in the state," Meena alleged.

He said there was no dearth of central funds for allocating to backward states, but utilization certificate must be deposited to get more money.

Meena alleged that in the last 19 years of Left rule the Centre sanctioned Rs 86000 crore to the state under different schemes, but development was not visible in Tripura.

Counteracting the state government's claim that the 13th Finance Commission had deprived the state, he said the commission has allocated Rs 13127 crore which was 56 per cent higher than the allocation given by the 12th Finance Commission.

AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Tripura, Luizinho Faleiro alleged that the Left Front government was 'anti-people and anti-poor'.

"That is why 25 lakh people in a state of 37.5 lakh population live below poverty line (BPL)," he claimed.

Calling for ouster of the government, Faleiro said if the Congress came to power, it would provide dearness allowance to state employees at Central government rates.

TPCC President, Sudip Ray Burman was also present.