The Dimapur District Congress Committee (DDCC) has raised serious allegations against the state government, accusing it of misusing public funds and displaying indifference towards pressing civic issues. Addressing a press conference held at Congress Bhavan in Dimapur on May 19, DDCC President Kutoho Chishi criticized the government’s inadequate response to queries filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act concerning the Dimapur town hall project and implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), among other matters.
Chishi said the RTI replies lacked clarity and failed to address key aspects of the projects, particularly regarding the utilization of funds and remarked that the information provided was insufficient and raises more questions than answers. Reiterating long-standing concerns over alleged financial irregularities in the construction of town halls, an issue the Congress party has previously flagged, Chishi revealed that despite submitting a letter to the Chief Secretary on April 4 demanding a reply within seven days, no response has been received more than a month later.
He stated that the DAN government has distanced itself from responsibility. Their silence shows not just disregard for the opposition but for the public as well, said the DDCC President urging citizens to demand greater transparency and accountability from the government.
The DDCC also drew attention to the alleged irregularities in the PMAY scheme, both in its urban and rural components. Chishi claimed that although the Centre releases funds directly to beneficiaries of Rs.1.5 lakh for urban and Rs. 1.2 lakh for rural housing, unauthorized deductions ranging from Rs. 18,000 to Rs. 27,000 have been reported in several villages.
Chishi further alleged that in Dimapur, Niuland, and Chümoukedima districts, Block Development Officers (BDOs) have been withdrawing funds from beneficiaries’ accounts, sometimes under coercion and alleged that villagers have been threatened with being excluded from future developmental projects if they do not comply.
Additionally, he pointed out that many beneficiaries had not begun construction even after receiving the first or second installment, raising questions about monitoring by relevant departments. In some areas, he said, residents were asked to make advance payments to be included in the scheme.
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Chishi stated that the loopholes must be urgently addressed and will make all evidence public. The DDCC also advised the citizens to verify if construction is genuinely taking place or if funds are being diverted.
The DDCC president urged the relevant departments to publish comprehensive transparency reports and called for the formation of an independent committee to investigate the issue. Emphasizing that the central scheme was designed to uplift citizens, he raised concerns over the lack of transparency and questioned who was authorizing the deductions, pointing out that beneficiaries were being left uninformed about critical aspects of the program.
The DDCC further called on the public to speak out stating, “The issue at hand transcends political lines and centers on justice, transparency, and the rights of citizens.” It also asserted that despite limited resources, they are prepared to pursue legal action if necessary to hold those responsible accountable.
Kumjimong, DDCC General Secretary highlighted that earlier appeals for a special investigative committee into the town hall projects were disregarded. The committee also alleged instances of political favoritism, claiming that benefits from government schemes are frequently directed toward individuals with political affiliations rather than to those in genuine need.
The DDCC condemned what It described as the government’s indifferent stance and called for collective public action to confront the alleged irregularities and demand accountability.
