Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik Tuesday expressed concern over the poor fund utilisation in social welfare sector in the northeast states.
Chairing a one-day conference of state ministers for welfare and social justice of all northeast states here, Wasnik said that many of them had not fully utilised the allotted funds under centrally-sponsored schemes.
“The average expenditure of the ministry is between 97-99 percent but the expenditure in the northeast hovers a little over 50 percent which the states here have to address urgently,” he said.
Citing examples of how the allocation was not utilised, Wasnik cited the example of the provision for giving aides and appliances to people with disabilities.
Wasnik urged the states to issue disability certificates to the deserving people at the earliest.
