Guwahati, March 5: Investigation into the Assam social welfare department scam has unearthed alleged misappropriation of around Rs 2 crore in procuring sewing machines under a central scheme in 2013-14.
An official source told The Telegraph that the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau, which is investigating the scam, has detected "gross anomalies" in implementation of the centrally-funded Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana in Goalpara and Kamrup districts on a pilot basis in 2013-14 during the previous Tarun Gogoi government.
The scheme was formulated to cover wage loss incurred by underprivileged expecting and lactating mothers by providing financial aid of Rs 4,000 per beneficiary in three instalments through cash transfer according to certain criteria and guidelines.
The funds were subsequently released to the district social welfare officers of Goalpara and Kamrup for transfer to the beneficiaries.
"After disbursal of some money to the beneficiaries, a section of officials of the social welfare department entered into a conspiracy to misappropriate the unspent/un-disbursed money of the scheme," the source said.
"These officials, including some from the department's district-level and state-level purchase committees, allotted an order to a private firm, M/s Global India, to supply office stationeries and other miscellaneous items, which surprisingly included sewing machines under the scheme without inviting bids from any other firm by violating the guidelines," the source said.
"They had falsely shown the notice inviting quotations and published it in newspapers through the directorate of information and public relations (DIPR). During verification it was found that no such notice was published," he said.
"They had shown the quotation notice was published in dailies on October 16, 2014, and it was released by the DIPR vide Janasanyog no. 3319/14 but after investigation it was found that the number was actually of a quotation of director of medical education, Assam, released by the DIPR," he said.
"Without publishing any quotation notice, the state-level purchase committee selected M/s Global India by violating the guidelines. The firm was asked to supply sewing machines worth a couple of crores for the two districts without even finalising the names of beneficiaries," he said.
According to the source, the then programme officer of the social welfare department, Kulendra Saikia, and its finance and accounts officer Rajat Suvra Bhattacharjee - who were also members of the purchase committee - had allegedly taken active part in the conspiracy for illegal procurement of sewing machines for their wrongful gain.
"Hemi Bora and Kishori Baruah, the then district social welfare officers of Goalpara and Kamrup districts, had allegedly made payments to the firm before receiving the illegally procured sewing machines. They were also found to have manipulated official documents/records to cover up the irregularities," he said.
All the four accused along with upper division assistant, Kamrup, Debasish Dey and lower division assistant, Goalpara, Sajid Hussain, were arrested by the vigilance sleuths on February 28 in connection with the case.
The source said Saikia is also suspected to be involved in making illegal appointments in the social welfare department.
