All Nagaland Cooperative Societies’ Federation (ANCSF), in response to clarification made by three chief project officers (CPOs) over its allegations that authorities were indulging in random pick and choose of beneficiaries under ICDP, Monday expressed regret that three CPOs were “a mere tool or puppets” in the hands of political leadership at the top of cooperation department charged with the responsibility for successful implementation of ICDP in Zunheboto, Dimapur and Mon. Affirming that it stood by its earlier statement, an ANCSF release issued by its president R.K Mekro said the contention of three CPOs did not hold any water as it had “sufficient reasons and instances” to prove that selection process in the first phase of ICDP was “pick and choose or dictated by political leadership”.
The federation also reiterated that “a good number of primary cooperative societies”, that did not complete three years of maturity of registration, were selected at the level of DLCC, got sanctions and funds disbursed to them in the first phase of programme.
ANCSF said project implementation team (PIT) should admit that there were already irregularities in the process of selection of beneficiary societies rather than “shielding their boss at the political level of the department.” It further maintained that PIT should be aware that in particular case in Zunheboto district, out of a total amount of Rs.1.50 lakh sanctioned for a society, deduction was made in such a way that Rs.80,000 was deducted both on loan and subsidy component and only Rs.70,000 was paid to the society responsible in the recently completed first phase ICDP. Therefore, the ANCSF urged the government to ensure that genuine and entitled societies were allowed to get financial assistance under the scheme for justice and fairness.