Extensive irregularities in the implementation of welfare schemes of Government of Maharashtra have led to the wastage of 206 crore of the taxpayers’ money. It’s time to make government accountable for wasting our hard-earned money in the name of welfare.
According to a 2016 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), the extensive irregularities in the implementation of welfare schemes of Government of Maharashtra have led to the wastage of ₹206 crore of the taxpayers’ money.
Sahitya Ratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation Limited is a government company whose work is to undertake welfare schemes financed by Government of Maharashtra and Central Agencies for the economic development of the poor people of Matang community.
During July to October 2014, the company disbursed loans to beneficiaries for the purchase of tourist vehicles up to ₹7 lakhs.
CAG observed that six District Officers of the company disposed of loans up to ₹10.14 crore for 64 luxury vehicles including BMW, Audi, Mercedes Benz, etc. It was also revealed that in around 12 cases the names of registered owners of vehicles and beneficiaries were not same.
In 2012, the company bought vehicles at the cost of ₹6.83 crore including TATA Ace and Mahindra Maxximo under Term Loan Assistance Scheme. Surprisingly, before buying these vehicles, the company did not identify the eligible beneficiaries of the scheme. Consequently, these vehicles are lying unused. The audit report notes that these vehicles will not be functional as they have been kept idle for a very long time.
The company also gave loans of ₹35. 34 crore to beneficiaries that did not belong to the Matang community in 2014. In the same year, loans worth ₹104 crore were given to three companies, in two of which the then chairperson had large stakes. For these two firms, loans worth ₹61.74 crore and ₹41 crore were disbursed. The corporation launched Mahila Samrudhi Scheme for the upliftment of women in 2014-15. Against the objective of the scheme, a sum of ₹30.5 lakh was diverted to 60 male beneficiaries.
The CAG found irregularities with respect to the benefit provided to around 665 ineligible beneficiaries in other similar corporations in the state which lead to the leakages of ₹7.98 crore. The beneficiaries did not fulfil important criteria such as income, age, caste, registration, etc. and the loans were often disbursed without guarantors.
It is very disappointing to see how the money which was meant to be used for the upliftment of the poor communities is being used to buy luxury cars. Instead of making poor people better-off, the taxpayers are funding increasing fortunes of bureaucrats and their relatives.
It is the time that we say #NotOK to corrupt bureaucrats and unaccountable government for wasting our hard-earned money in the name of welfare.
