Graft charges in welfare schemes to be probed

Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner, said here recently that the district administration would direct the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement to probe allegations of corruption in the implementation of works under the Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP).

She was responding to complaints of corruption in the implementation of SCP and TSP made by Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) leaders Uday Kumar Tallur and Sundar Master at grievance redressal meeting of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at the District Offices Complex Hall.

Separate meeting

C.B. Vedamurthy, Superintendent of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement, sought a written complaint on the matter. A separate meeting would be called on October 4 to discuss the issue of graft in implementation of SCP and TSP.

The DSS leaders said that the lands reserved for Depressed Classes called ‘DC Manna Bhoomi’ should be given only to the SC and ST beneficiaries. The encroachment of the ‘DC Manna Bhoomi’ lands should be cleared. Those not having a minimum knowledge of ‘DC Manna Bhoomi’ had been chosen as members of its Selection Committee, they alleged.

Ms. Francis assured them that a meeting on this matter would be held in the presence of the Minister for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports Pramod Madhwaraj to resolve the issue.

Funds for education

Ramesh Kotian, DSS leader, complained that though government norms clearly stated that the action plans of gram panchayats should reserve funds for promoting primary and higher education of SC/ST students, this was not being done.

The financial assistance to be given during marriage to SC/ST beneficiaries was also not being given properly, he added.

Ms. Francis directed Shivananda K., CEO, to call a meeting of all gram panchayats and direct them not to divert funds meant for welfare of SC/ST beneficiaries.

Ambedkar Bhavans

Mr. Tallur expressed dissatisfaction over the construction of Ambedkar Bhavan at Yedthare. The quality of work was substandard. Besides, the area of land allotted to Ambedkar Bhavan should be based on the population in the village concerned, he said.

To a query, Ms. Francis said that the maintenance of Ambedkar Bhavans would be entrusted to the local bodies.

Shilpa Nag, Assistant Commissioner, Sanjeev M. Patil, Superintendent of Police, were present.