ALAPPUZHA: SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has called a high-level meeting at Cherthala on Saturday in the wake of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau move to probe the alleged misappropriation of funds in the microfinance scheme, According to Yogam sources, the meeting to be attended by the Yogam’s union secretaries, vice-presidents and executive members will chalk out a strategy to counter the VACB action.
Mr Vellappally on Friday claimed that some vested interests were misguiding CPM leader V.S. Achuthanandan on the microfinance scheme. Mr Natesan told reporters that the Yogam would submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the matter.
“Yogam was given at least Rs 15 crore by the Backward Community Welfare Corporation in 2001. Out of this, Rs 10 crore has already been repaid. The allegation cropped up about the remaining Rs 5 crore and 39 unions which diverted the money to other purposes and levied excess interest from beneficiaries,” he said and added that there was no corruption in the matter.
Mr Natesan said that the fund was utilised for the uplift of economically backward women in the backward community. Many communities were allotted funds in the same way. “But the selective treatment against the Yogam is deplorable,” he said. Mr Natesan praised Mr Pinarayi Vijayan saying that he had become wiser and consistent after he took office. He again attacked VS saying that he was suffering from something as he was getting older.
