Dr Heggade runs SKDRDP as banking business and not as service: Somnath Nayak

Dr Heggade runs SKDRDP as banking business and not as service: Somnath Nayak

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 31, 2013: 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.

Speaking at the press meet held at Press Club on Oct 31, Thursday, he said that Shree Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) is known as the ‘Model Project’, but in real sense the implementation of its schemes and loans are worse than government projects.

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.

At the beginning, the project was established with the aim to make 1,265 Self Help Groups in three years and improve the financial conditions of 11,175 BPL families, but however they could not meet it within the given deadline and had to extend it for many years. Even after six years, they could only form 1167 groups and it was clearly stated in the SGSY Committee meeting that project failed to meet its objectives.

Nayak also said that Dr Heggade has been 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.

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 in front of media. 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. Such kind of profit making ideas is not called service but it is banking business and all the statement given are in form of legal documents in hand as the evidence, he added.