A Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) welfare scheme for women has become a bone of contention between Mahalakshmi Layout MLA N.L. Narendra Babu and local councillor S. Harish with both levelling allegations against each other.
As part of the scheme, women of Nagapura ward (represented by Mr. Harish) were taught how to sow and were promised sewing machines after completion of training. At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr. Harish denied allegations that he was delaying distribution of sewing machines to the beneficiaries and that Mr. Babu had held a campaign against him by sealing the godown where sewing machines were stored.
On Thursday, Mr. Babu alleged that there were “large-scale irregularities” in Nagapura ward and that he would file a complaint with the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force. He claimed the BBMP had issued cheques in the name of the beneficiaries in April. However, the beneficiaries, who were yet to receive them, were told they would be given sewing machines.
“What happened to the cheques? Why are sewing machines being given? Who encashed the cheques to procure the machines?” he asked. Mr. Babu added that many beneficiaries had settled in different parts of the State after they got married.
