The district panchayat has cracked the whip on an official whose negligent act led to the lapse of Rs.50 lakh meant for implementing schemes targeting Scheduled Caste people.
As per relevant provisions enshrined in the Kerala Panchayati Raj (Control over Officers) Rules, 1997, district panchayat president V.K. Madhu has issued a memo against an SC Implementing Officer. “The officer was asked to submit a detailed response. However, the reply given by the official was not satisfactory and hence a memo of charges has been issued,” Mr Madhu said.
The dereliction of duty resulted in lapse of Rs.50 lakh at a time when local bodies were facing fund crunch in implementing welfare schemes, he added. Sources in the panchayat said the official had gone on leave after the memo was served.
The panchayat had received Rs.60 lakh during the 2014-15 financial year to take up various welfare programmes for people belonging to SC community. Of the total allotted money, a sum of Rs.10 lakh was spent towards educational needs of SC students studying in residential schools. The remaining amount of Rs.50 lakh was meant to be used for skill development and procurement of autorickshaws for SC women.
Unspent money
When the ruling Left Democratic Front assumed office, the money unspent was plugged along with Rs.85 lakh received from the government for constructing reading rooms for SC students at home. The civic body asked the official to prepare a detailed plan. “She delayed it further and the project could not take off in the last financial year. As per rule, unspent amount cannot be carried over for more than one year,” the official added.
