JK Vigilance seeks nod to prosecute social welfare officials

Srinagar, Nov 15 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today said about Rs 1.73 crore have been misappropriated by several officials of the Social Welfare Department in the past few years.

A vigilance spokesman said the organisation had registered seven cases against many Social Welfare Department officials in Baramulla and Badgam districts for misappropriation of funds allotted under various social security schemes such as the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) and the Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS) during 2003-04 following a surprise check of these offices in 2004.

The investigations in five cases were at an advanced stage. While one case has already received sanction for prosecution by the state government, the other has been sent for the purpose, he added.

The spokesman said more than Rs 1.73 crore had been detected to have been misappropriated by the officials of the Social Welfare Department in these cases.

The investigations have revealed that a large sum of money had been released by the state government in two social security schemes under which the cash assistance was being distributed among various categories of destitute, aged persons and widows during 2003-04.

The government decided to disburse the relief in money orders through local post-offices. The accused in Sopore, Bandipora, Pattan, Tangmarg, Baramulla, Beerwah and Badgam fraudulently showed that part of the amount was disbursed through money orders. They also did not mention the money which was returned by post offices when addressees were either non-existent or had expired.

The spokesman said an amount of Rs 36.31 lakh was found to have been misappropriated by the Tehsil Social Welfare Officer, Sopore and her Junior Assistant from January one, 2003 to March 30, 2004.

The government has already accorded sanction for prosecution of the case. Similarly, investigations have been completed in a case related to Bandipora where Rs 16.19 lakh were misappropriated by the accused officials. The case has been forwarded to the state government for accord of sanction for prosecution.

The investigations in cases related to Pattan (Rs 24 lakh), Baramulla (Rs 1.5 lakh), Tangmarg (Rs 30 lakh), Beerwah (Rs 63 lakh) and Badgam (Rs 2.60 lakh) were at an advanced stage and expected to be completed soon, the spokesman added.

UNI AG RR PM1724