Goa mineral foundation withdraws Rs 3 crore sanctioned to nursing institute linked to CM

In March 2023, the Governing Council of the North DMF had granted its approval to sanction Rs 3 crore to the nursing institute.

On January 13, the chief minister's office had issued a clarification on the issue (Express photo by Mayura Janwalkar)

The Governing Council of North Goa District Mineral Foundation (DMF) — a body set up to address issues in areas affected by mineral mining — has withdrawn administrative approval for its decision to allot Rs 3 crore to Sai Nursing Institute, established in 2014 by Sai Nursing Society founded by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

On January 8, the High Court of Bombay at Goa had sought an explanation from the Goa government to clarify the basis for the said allocation after an NGO, Goa Foundation, had filed a petition alleging diversion of funds, which are meant for welfare of people from mining affected areas. In March 2023, the Governing Council of the North DMF had granted its approval to sanction Rs 3 crore to the nursing institute.

In the petition, Goa Foundation had stated that the DMF sanction for funds does not appear to meet the terms of the statutory prescription as contained in Section 9-B of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and Rule of 2018.

Don't Miss | Why Supreme Court action in Goa is nudge to honour rights to commons

According to the minutes of a recent meeting of the council, the decision to withdraw the approval was taken at a meeting on January 24, a few days after the High Court had sought an explanation from the state government.

The minutes of the meeting said: “The Governing Council has withdrawn the administrative approval given earlier to the Sai Nursing Institute project and decided to revert the allocated funds to the Skill Development Sector.”

It added, “Sai Nursing Institute has withdrawn its proposal dated 17/11/2022 for financial assistance from DMF (Trust) as the institute has completed a substantial portion of the works proposed earlier.”

On January 13, the chief minister’s office had issued a clarification on the issue.

Story continues below this ad

“It is clarified that a scheme was approved under District Mineral Fund towards Sai Nursing Institute under rural development initiative in mining affected areas. However, Sai Nursing Institute did not take any benefits of the scheme and no amount was disbursed to the institute by District Mineral Foundation. Sai Nursing Institute has written to DMF that the institute does not require any funding for any of its public service programmes,” the statement from the CMO had said.

Pavneet Singh Chadha

Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram