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FFW achieves less than 50pc target

KATHMANDU, JAN 15 - Beset with the lingering violence, the Food For Work (FFW), a programme run for the people living in the food shortage districts, has achieved less than half of its target during the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
A source at the Ministry of Local Development (MoLD) told The Kathmandu Post that of the total budget of Rs 65 million earmarked for the work during the period, more than half the budget remained unutilised due to the internal conflict.
The total investment for the work stood at merely Rs 31.7 million during the first quarter while the government with the assistance of World Food Programme had allocated a budget of Rs 65 million, said Basanta Raj Gautam, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Local Development.
He attributed continuing political uncertainty in the country as a major reason behind failure of the work to achieve the desired goal.
The FWF has currently been running in 30 districts in the country. Various programmes, including temporary employment generation and rural infrastructure development have been conducted under it with a view to help meet both ends for the local communities.
The major districts, where the programmes have been implemented, include Jumla, Humla, Bajura, Achham, Dadeldhura and Darchula.
According to Gautam, 152km road was projected to be constructed during the period, but sadly, the total length of road constructed during the period was merely 45km.
Likewise, construction of as many as 362 shelters was planned for the sake of ex- Kamaiyas while only 66 shelters were built during the period.
On the other hand, the Maoists had looted around 6.5 metric tonnes rice that was allocated for the work in Bajura, a war-ravaged district, around 20 days ago.
"Social mobilisation is a must to effectively implement the work," said Gautam, further adding that the current scenario of the country has made it a far distance dream the task of fully moblising the social force.
He also pointed out that the work has been unable to accomplish the set goal, as its planning had not taken into account the current situation of the country.
Meanwhile, the total budget of the work for this fiscal year is Rs 388 million, of which the government has appropriated Rs 126 million. The World Food Programme has approved assistance of the remaining budget for the work.
Currently around 2,000 people across the country have been employed under the work each day.Posted on: 2004-01-16 03:12

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