Mangalore, Oct 31: Now in another incident Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade’s name come up. Nagarika Seva Trust President Somnath Nayak demanded Dr D Veerendra Heggade to release the documents regarding various funds released to Shree Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), trusts and societies.
Addressing a press meet on Thursday Oct. 31st, 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.
He also said that a total of Rs 14.56 crore was sourced by Centre and State Government for project during Venkaiah Naidu was the minister for rural development.
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 and the deadline has been extended several times. Over the last six years only 1167 groups have been formed and they didn’t reach their target.
Nayak also said that Dr Heggade running the services using government or Nabard funds and even a single penny is not taken from the temple fund. To call himself as transparent, Dr Heggade must reveal the income of the temple and the services offered by devotes in temple.
He further said the SKDRDP has received loan of Rs 2700 crore from Nabard and other banks with 8 to 8.5 per cent interest, but Dr Heggade provides loan to SHG at 18 percent interest and he had agreed it.
“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. When asked about 10 percent more interest, he said that 2 percent is used for furniture’s for schools and colleges and 2 percent for admission. Then what about the 6 percent profit he gets from SHG’s interest, he asked.
Nayak said these kinds of techniques are not called as service; he is doing banking business and all of the claims made by them with the evidences in hand he added.
