Thiruvananthapuram: A social audit report has revealed that nine members of the Poovachal panchayat had unauthorisedly received Rs 1.68 lakh by using forged documents, without doing work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The finding is that four members of the Communist Party of India CPI(M), one member of the Communist Party of India (CPI), and two members each of the Congress and BJP had together received Rs 1,68,422.
The social audit report of Vellanad block says that documents were forged to show that the members had worked under the job guarantee scheme even on the day when they had taken part in the panchayat committee meeting. The social audit was conducted for the period from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. Although the ombudsman ordered repayment of the money, the members repaid only Rs. 18,000. The attempt is to tender an apology and wriggle out of the situation.
Documents state that a woman member of the CPI(M) had done work under the job guarantee scheme on December 23, 2021. It also has her signature. However, the minutes book has recorded that she had taken part in the panchayat committee meeting that was conducted at 2 in the afternoon on the same day. The Congress member took part in the panchayat committee meeting and worked under the job guarantee scheme at the same time on November 26, 2021. The fraud has been detected in the wards of Mundukonam, Veeranakavu, Pattakkulam, Poovachal, Kovilvila, Panniyode, Thottambara, Mylottumumoozhi, and Chamavila.
The Vigilance is empowered to register a case since this is an instance of financial fraud. Since the offenders are people’s representatives, there is also a provision in the law to disqualify them. However, a move is on to bring about a compromise.