Fake caste certificate cases rampant in West Odisha

A few days back, the Schedule Caste certificates of former chairman of Sambalpur Municipality Girish Patel and Burla NAC chairperson Chandrabati Naik were rejected by Samablapur tehsildar.

 Even the block chairperson of Nuagaon, Snehalata Behera, has been accused of submitting fake caste certificate to grab the post reserved for Scheduled Castes. Probe into the matter is on. Cases of people submitting fake caste certificates for jobs and educational benefits have been on the rise here.

 On August 10, the Balangir Police arrested seven persons who had been identifying themselves as tribals by submitting fake caste certificates. A constable Dhiren Biswal, who secured job by submitting a similar certificate, however, managed to elude the police dragnet and is now on bail.

 In December last, RDC (North) recommended dismissal of eight government officials besides action against four students for getting jobs and availing benefits by submitting fake caste certificate. The eight government officials have been identified as section officers in RDC office here, Kalindra Jani, headmaster of Kurebhana Upper Primary School in Balangir, Ashok Kumar Budek, both belonging to Balangir, an employee of Sambalpur University, Biswamitra Majhi of Angul, besides Kanistha Khamari, Arjun Bariha, Jogendra Bariha, Karuna Budek and Mohan Dansena, all residents of Sonepur district.

The president of Zilla Adivasi Sangha, Bargarh, Goverdhan Bhue, alleged that 198 persons had got jobs with the Bargarh administration by submitting fake certificates. Bhue alleged that although it has been more than two years since documentary evidence had been submitted against them, no action has yet been initiated by the district administration. In February, Dungripali Police in Sonepur district arrested 14 persons for their involvement in a fake caste certificate case. Investigation revealed that those from higher caste had given their children for adoption to tribal families to claim benefits of Schedule Tribes.

 The Paschim Odisha Adivasi Kalyan Mahasangha has identified 366 persons availing benefits using fake caste certificate in Balangir district, 154 cases in Sonepur, 204 in Bargarh, 137 in Boudh, 174 in Kalahandi, 142 in Nabarangpur besides eight in Sambalpur.  Although committees have been formed to look into the allegations, the tribal bodies are not satisfied with the speed at which their allegations are being heard and disposed of. The outfits have even demanded action against the revenue inspectors and tehsildars who have issued false caste certificate for filthy lucre.

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