Mangalore, Oct 31: Clouds of trouble continue to hover over Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade. In another attack against him, Nagarika Seva Trust from Gurvayankere has sought release of white paper with regard to the numerous funds released to Shree Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) and various Trusts and societies managed by Dr D Veerendra Heggade.
Addressing a news conference, NST President Somnath Nayak has said that the SKDRDP has been billed as'a model project worth emulating' by all but in real sense it cannot be called so because it is worse than most of the government projects when it comes to implementation.
A sum of Rs 14.56 crore was sanctioned for the project when Venkaiah Naidu was the minister for rural development, of which Rs 7.01 crore was centre's share and Rs 2.34 crore was state's funding.
“The project had aimed to make 1,265 Self Help Groups in three years and thereby improve the financial conditions of 11,175 BPL families. However, since the target could not be met within the stipulated time, the deadline for the project has been extended several times,” he said adding that over the last six years 1167 groups have been formed.
This project was to be reviewed during the district level SGSY Committee meeting convened under the presidentship of Zilla Panchayat CEO. However, during the meeting it was clear that the project has failed to meet its objectives.
He said that the project received a total of Rs 891.21 lakh (Rs 693.86 lakh from centre, Rs 187.10 lakh from state and bank interest), of which Rs 863.65 lakh has been spent. About 20 per cent of the total amount has been spent on movable and immovable assets, 17 per cent on consultancy fee and only 54 per cent has been used to provide subsidy to people.
“There is very little or no funds put from the temple in most of the social service done by Dr Heggade. He has been running these services using government or Nabard funds. Hence, if he wants to call himself to be transparent, then he has to come out in open and reveal the income of the temple and the services that are being provided using that money,” he challenged.
The SKDRDP has received loan of Rs 2700 crore from Nabard and other banks.
“The organization has received the loan from these banks at 8 to 8.5 per cent interest and as Dr Heggade himself has agreed, the organization doles out loans to SHG at more than 12 per cent. Is this service,” questioned Mr Nayak adding that even banks and co-operative societies are ready to give loans at 12 to 18 per cent interest.
Mr Nayak demanded Dr Heggade to either pay back the additional interest amount to the SHGs or agree that he is doing banking business and not any service.
Further, Mr Nayak said that all of the allegations made by them have been made with evidences in hand.
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