The allotment of Rs 14.36 crore under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for Janasree Sustainable Development Mission (JSDM) has evoked protest, with various organisations coming out against the funding.
The Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union and the Kerala Karshaka Sanghom are planning agitations against the allotment of substantial funds to a private organisation.
The CPM is also planning to challenge the move in the court. The organisations alleged that the government has provided the grant to Janasree Mission, which was functioning like a feeder organisation of the Congress, despite the presence of Kudumbashree, a government agency.
Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union (KSKTU) state secretary M V Govindan alleged that the allotment of funds to Janasree was against existing rules.
“The funds have been given to Janasree which is a voluntary organisation formed by Congress spokesman M M Hassan and this is condemnable,’’ he told Express. Stating that Central funds have always been distributed through various departments, he said that the new move would be detrimental to the farm and animal husbandry sector.
Kerala Karshaka Sanghom (KKS) state secretary K V Ramakrishnan said that the allotment of funds to a private organisation will have far-reaching consequences for the state’s development.
He demanded that the government should reverse the decision. Both KSKTU and KKS are planning protests in the coming days against the allotment.
Former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, who was instrumental in setting up the Kudumbashree Mission, told Express that there was corruption in the allotment of funds to Janasree. “We will challenge this in court,’’ he said. “Kudumbashree is a forum for poverty eradication. The present government is deviating from this policy. Janasree has been formed for disrupting Kudumbasree,” Isaac said.
He said that if the government wanted to change policies, it should have initiated discussions. The allotment of funds for Janasree was politically motivated and there was clear violation in the rules and guidelines which had been followed over the years.
However, Janasree Mission chairman Hassan refuted the charges and said that the allegations were politically motivated.
“We are eligible for getting the funds. It has been sanctioned as per the guidelines. We had given application for the funds. If Kudumbasree had given the application, they would also have got it,’’ he said, alleging that some were trying to politicise Kudumbasree.
Hassan said that the project had been given to JSDM and not to Janasree Microfin. He said that those raising allegations does not know the difference between JSDM and Janasree Microfin. The JSDM is only a subsidiary of Janasree, he added.
Meanwhile, Kudumbasree director P K Thomas said that it was for the government to decide whether money had to be allotted to individual projects.