THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed that 14.37 crores was embezzled due to Kudumbashree's indirect assistance to some private agencies in the implementation of the central scheme for vocational training of people. It happened under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana scheme, where Kudumbashree was in charge of implementation. It has been found that 13 agencies in 15 projects received money illegally from September 2014 to March 2022. The audit report has been handed over to the state government.

Kudumbashree's explanation is not satisfactory. There was laxity in submitting documents for inspection as well.

The records of 218 projects sanctioned by Kudumbashree to 163 private agencies were examined. The center aimed to provide training to 1,17,247 people in Kerala. According to Kudumbashree, 61,459 people have completed training and 35,741 people have been given employment for at least three months. However, the CAG has found that some agencies have submitted fake documents regarding the appointment and salary of the trainees. Mistakes were found in the bank records of eight projects implemented through seven agencies. 8.17 crore given to four agencies under the scheme should be recovered with interest.

Out of the 49 projects sanctioned to 49 agencies between 2018 and 2021, no training till March 2022 has been completed. Hence the amount cannot be seen as expended. The report also states that 59.47 crores earmarked for this purpose should be recovered along with interest.