The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Fraud unearthed in `food-for-work' scheme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Fraud unearthed in `food-for-work' scheme

S. Vijay Kumar

Huge amounts of cash and rice swindled, says investigator

MADURAI: : The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has unearthed a scam in the implementation of the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that officials of the District Rural Development Agency here forged records to draw huge sums and rice meant for distribution to beneficiaries under the `food-for-work' programme.

A surprise check for the sample period of 2004-05 in four of the 13 blocks exposed deviation from the guidelines. In one block, 210 works, mostly desilting of tanks, were undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.3 crores. "Almost all the works were executed through contractors. While many works were partly completed, a few were not at all taken up. Machines were used against norms," an investigating official said.

The modus operandi was that the engineers would prepare the specifications and estimate. Records would be forged to show as if the local villagers were employed under the programme. "The funds (calculated according to the number of man-days) and rice (five kg an individual) would be drawn with fake receipts. The rice would be diverted to smugglers of the Public Distribution System rice."

The aim of the scheme, launched in 2001, was to help out to the drought-hit farm workers, providing them employment. Others covered under the SGRY included the Dalits, women and parents of handicapped children/child labourers rescued from hazardous industries.

"Under the SGRY, the villagers would get Rs. 26.50 a day plus five kg of rice. This was also an effort to prevent them migrating to urban areas for employment. Since the work done by machines would be quick and cheaper, the officials seldom implemented the scheme through villagers. During 2004-05, Rs. 13 crores was allocated for the scheme in Madurai district," he said.

The sleuths suspect that similar irregularities might have taken place in other districts. "A detailed report has been sent to the Government seeking permission to register a case," the official said.

A DRDA official here admitted that many works were executed through contractors. Villagers were not willing work hard for a paltry sum and some rice.

"The guidelines are not viable. We cannot force the beneficiaries to participate in the work. Instead of returning the funds to the Centre, some permanent structures and development works were taken up," a Block Development Officer said.

The investigating team has seized SGRY records from the DRDA office in Madurai. A similar investigation is likely in other districts soon, DVAC sources said.

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