: The Perambra block panchayat has decided to reply to the findings of the Local Fund Audit Department about irregularities in the implementation of Subicsha (Sustainable Business Development of Innovative Coconut-based Micro-Enterprises for Holistic Growth and Poverty Alleviation) project in the district. Development standing committee chairman Palluruthy Joseph said in a statement that the audit report had been prepared without seeking clarifications from the elected representatives concerned and the project implementation officials. The observations in the audit report were against the existing government orders and guidelines. The political affiliation of the audit department officials was known to all. That the audit had been prepared after 14 years since the commencement of the project revealed that it had been done with ulterior political motive, Mr. Joseph, said.
‘Congress intervention’
He also urged the people to be aware of the attempts made by the Congress party to defame Perambra block panchayat and interfere with the project in the name of the audit report.
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A special audit report had detected corruption and irregularities in the Subicsha project implemented in the Perambra block panchayat. The Rs.14.06-crore welfare project, executed under the Swarn Jayanti Gram Rozgar Yojana (SJGRY) in October 29, 2003 to augment the livelihood of 7,000 families in the seven grama panchayats of Perambra block panchayat within three years by developing 43 value-added products from coconut, had resulted in the formation of a private company — Subicsha Coconut Producer Company — after spending Rs 10.85 crore.
The self-help groups constituted by women, who were the beneficiaries of the project, had become defunct. Thus the aim of eradicating poverty of 7,000 families in the rural belts in the district still remained on paper. The report found that the Perambra block panchayat president had formed the Subicsha Coconut Producer Company and implemented the project breaching rules and regulations of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act.