Double trouble for those who appealed in job guarantee scam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The move by the officials who had scammed the money under the guise of the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Scheme and escaped without repaying it has become a double setback. When the State Appellate Authority was approached against the district ombudsman's order to repay Rs 1.19 lakh, the verdict was that the stolen amount should be returned with interest and action should be taken against the officers involved in the incident. This is the first time in the history of the State Employment Guarantee Mission that such a strict judgment has been passed. The officials of Avanoor panchayat of Thrissur Puzhakkal block were the ones fell into the self-dug hole.

The fraud was in the name of the Kandamkulam renovation implemented in the thirteenth ward of the panchayat during the financial year 2020-2021. According to five muster rolls issued for this work, fake signatures of 13 workers were recorded and Rs 1,13,490 was transferred to the bank account of 13 workers as wages for 30 days without working. 5558 rupees were also spent on buying and renting goods for work not done. Anto K John, a resident of the area pointed out the matter and based on the complaint given to the Thrissur District Employment Ombudsman, it was found that a total fraud of 1,19,048 rupees had taken place. Avanoor Grama Panchayat Ex-Secretary M Jayan, Assistant Secretary NP Vinu, Head Clerk AK Lalitha, Contract Employees Accredited Engineer MR Preeti, Overseer KS Bindu, IT Assistant AG Sangeeta and CY Jackson who was the working mate of the spillover work were ordered by District Ombudsman KV Abdul Aziz on August 26 to refund the money. The committee chaired by the Chairman of the Appellate Authority, Dr BS Thirumeni, considered the appeal filed against this and took the position that exemplary punishment should be given to the culprits.

This is how the double trouble works

1. 1.19 lakhs to be repaid within 30 days with 12% interest till that date.
2. The Panchayat Secretary should take disciplinary action against the guilty officers of the Panchayat.
3. Puzhakkal Block Program Officer, Joint BDO, and Village Extension Officer should take action against the Principal Director of Local Government Department.