CAG report on tribals still a voice in the wilderness

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) highlights the sad state of affairs of tribal development during the period 2009-2014, reflecting lack of responsibility across the Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States. The successive governments in AP failed to ensure mandatory allocation of TSP (Tribal Sub Plan) funds from the total outlay of the State budget in proportion to the ST population in the State.

As against mandated 6.6 per cent allocation of total plan budget outlay for the TSP, allocation was only about 3.97 per cent on an average during the last five years. Even out of the funds allocated, the government could not spend to the extent of 94 per cent in general sector, 36 per cent in social sector and 44 per cent in economic sector respectively.

Project Officers of the ITDAs in Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Khammam, Warangal and Adilabad districts parked funds amounting to Rs 71.40 crore in fixed deposits (FD) in various banks. During 2009-14, funds amounting to Rs 11.78 crore were lying idle in the Personnel Deposit Accounts of six ITDAs.

As at end of March 2014, funds amounting to Rs 94.27 crore remained unutilised and were lying in the Personnel Deposit Account of AP Scheduled Tribe Co-operative Finance Corporation Limited (TRICOR). The CAG report pointed out that advances amounting to Rs 165.46 crore remained unadjusted as of March 2014 in seven ITDAs.

The ITDAs failed to ensure sustainable livelihoods for the tribal communities through economic support schemes. During 2009-14, 4.86 lakh beneficiaries, as against the target of 7.14 lakh, were only covered and the funds earmarked were utilised only to the extent of 51 per cent, according to the CAG report. Beneficiary survey revealed that out of 58 beneficiaries in Utnoor in Adilabad district 36 had not started operation of units, in Eturunagaram (Warangal district).

Revealing the findings of audit scrutiny, the report said that TRICOR provided funds of Rs 2.10 crore to ITDA, Rampachodavaram, for establishment of three Integrated Dairy Development Units in East Godavari district. As against three units the PO, ITDA took up only one unit at Nimmalapalem in Addateegala mandal to benefit 60 identified beneficiaries at a cost of Rs 83.29 lakh and incurred 59.52 lakh. The unutilized funds were lying with the PO.

The CAG report further pointed out that the coffee and the rubber plantations planned for the benefit of tribal population failed to achieve desired results. The denial of the Commissioner of Tribal Welfare on any report given by Rubber Board about the unfavourable agro climatic conditions for rubber plantation in the ITDA area was disproved by the CAG by citing the inspection report (February 2010) of Rubber Board team categorically stating that the ITDA did not have the right agro climatic conditions for cultivating rubber.

During the joint physical verification of the rubber plantations in ITDA areas of East Godavari Audit team interacted with five farmers for whom 3,315 plants (covering 17 acres) were sanctioned, against which, only 1,356 plants (41 per cent) survived. The farmers attributed the poor survival to lack of irrigation facilities promised but not provided by ITDA while taking up the plantation. The report also pointed out violations of norms in procuring cashew plantations by ITDA, Rampachodavaram and failure in large scale plantation scheme.

The findings on the status of educational institutions said that there are no basic amenities at the Ashram high schools/ hostels. Audit scrutiny of the records of Commissioner of Tribal Welfare revealed that as against the sanctioned strength of 13,227 posts in Ashram/MPP schools in the State, 4,387 posts (33 per cent) were vacant.

Further the CAG audit scrutiny of the sampled institutions revealed that, out of 645 teaching posts, 240 (37 per cent) posts were being operated on regular basis and 363 (56 per cent) posts with part-time teachers, leaving 42 posts vacant. In East Godavari district, 40 per cent of posts were vacant while in Adilabad district, 84 per cent of posts were operated with part-time teachers.

By Dr Palla Trinadha Rao