RTI reveals reality of Centre's multi-crore promises

During Bihar's assembly elections in 2015, PM Modi announced ₹1.25 lakh crore aid which is yet to be released. The RTI also reveal that similar packages for Jammu and Kashmir, and Sikkim are yet to be disbursed.   

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the campaign for Bihar assembly elections in October 2015 announced a bounty of ₹1.25 lakh crore, and according to a recent reply to an RTI, the state is yet to receive the money even after 18 months. 

According to an IANS report, a Mumbai-based RTI activist Anil Galgali filed an RTI at the Union Finance Ministry last year seeking various details of financial aids and development packages announced by PM to different states in India. But, Deputy Director of Finance Ministry, Anand Parmar denied direct reply to the RTI query and has given the answers in indirect evasive manner. 

The activist who filed the RTI in December 2016, disclosed that the reply says the projects and works announced for Bihar will be finished in phases and that no money has been released from that promised ₹125000 crore special package. 

Bihar is not the standalone case, on November 7, 2015, PM Modi also announced an aid package of ₹80,068 crore for Jammu and Kashmir which is the state is yet to receive. According to the RTI reply, this fund for Jammu and Kashmir was to be utilised for long term relief and development after devastating flood crippled the state in 2015. 

For Sikkim also a multi-crore development package for enhancing its tourism infrastructure was announced in June last year which is also yet to be disbursed. In this regard, the RTI reply states that since the ruling CM of Sikkim will face state assembly elections in mid of 2019, therefore the delay in fund release is not surprising.  

As a matter of fact, it has to be noted that the Central government is announcing various aid packages especially during local body elections and state assembly elections and many of them are yet to see the light of day.