RAIPUR: An official probe confirmed a disturbing fraud involving the state’s flagship 'Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana' (Chief Minister’s Mass Marriage Scheme) in Chhattisgarh’s Koriya district.
At a mass wedding organised weeks ago at the Mahamaya Temple complex in Khargawan in Koriya, poor and underprivileged brides were given counterfeit metal ('gulet') Mangalsutras, the sacred matrimonial threads representing lifelong marital fidelity, instead of the mandated silver ones.
The official investigation report has indicted the District Program Officer (DPO) of the Women and Child Development (WCD) department, Aditya Sharma, for systemic corruption, gross negligence, and blatant violation of financial rules.
Congress leaders in the district carrying 24 pages of the confidential probe accused the ruling dispensation. The investigation was initiated by MCB Collector Santan Devi Jangde following formal complaints filed by the opposition and aggrieved beneficiaries.
"While bureaucrats in Nava Raipur were busy issuing press releases to cover up the fraud, the ground-level investigation by the Collector has stripped away the lies. This proves the roots of corruption run incredibly deep," stated the Congress leadership in the district.
According to the inquiry findings, the procurement process bypassed legal and financial checks and balances. DPO Aditya Sharma reportedly obtained quotations from vendor firms, but the comparative sheets were opened without the signatures, validation, or administrative approval of the designated 'Purchase Committee.
The WCD department completely bypassed the mandatory post-procurement physical verification of the bridal gifts and Mangalsutras.
In a direct violation of the Financial Powers Handbook (Vittiye Adhikar Pustika), no administrative or financial sanction was sought from the competent authority before releasing payments to the vendors.
While the Purchase Committee had explicitly mandated and recorded the distribution of 'silver' Mangalsutras in the official note-sheets, the DPO "single-handedly authorised the procurement of cheap, fake metal substitutes."
The Collector's definitive report proved that the beneficiaries were indeed defrauded.
Collector Jangde has reportedly sent the comprehensive inquiry report to the Secretary, WCD Secretariat, Nava Raipur, recommending disciplinary action against the culprits.
