The much touted State government’s Kalyana Lakshmi and Shadi Mubarak schemes are hit by allegations that fraudulent claims of the financial assistance are being made by ineligible persons, thereby pocketing the money extending under the scheme.
“One of the couple benefiting under the Kalyana Lakshmi have been married a few months ago but the couple submitted false documents to avail the benefit” was the comment made by a person at the Collectorate recently. There have been allegations of corruption in the implementation of the schemes.
As per the norms SC, ST and Minority girls under BPL category are eligible for these schemes and age of the girl should not be below 18 years where as the age of the boy should be above 21. However, it was alleged that in some instances the age of the girl or boy was being manipulated so that the applicant can become eligible for the benefit being extended by the government.
According to sources, officials received some application with fabricated details forcing them to check the school records to ascertain the age of the girl and it was proved that the date of birth certificate was fabricated. Such certificates are being used in performing child marriages and the same are being forwarded to get benefit under the scheme. Meeseva, internet centres are being used for this purpose.
Middlemen are approaching the beneficiaries with a promise that they would manage to get the scheme sanctioned by approaching officials. However, none of these allegations have been proved in a recent surprise check conducted by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials who gave clean chit stating that no corruption took place in implementing Kalyana Lakshmi and Shadi Mubarak schemes. However, an officer on condition of anonymity said that there were incidents where ineligible became beneficiaries by providing fraudulent certificates. and in some it was stated that even couple with children got benefitted.
