JOWAI: An inquiry has been ordered into an alleged Swachh Bharat scam in Bataw village under Khliehriat C&RD Block in East Jaintia Hills district.
The Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) of Bataw village has come under the scanner following the unearthing of the alleged scam based on reports obtained by the FKJGP Bataw Unit through an RTI application.
On Friday, Block Coordinator Seian Rymbai along his staff in the presence of the headman, R. Pahoh, FKJGP general secretary Jaintia Hills Unit R. Shylla and Bataw Unit president D. Sumer recorded the statements of all beneficiaries based on the official record.
During the inquiry, it was found that only few beneficiaries received materials for construction of toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission in the village as against the huge number of households listed as beneficiary.
Details of bank statements received through RTI reveal that an amount of Rs 20.96 lakh was withdrawn from the account of the Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) for dubious purposes.
The last amount debited was Rs 4.80 lakh on January 8 to the VWSC secretary Ombormi Tariang.
Following RTI findings received by the FKJGP, it has been alleged that the VWSC secretary had misappropriated the funds. The RTI revealed that many non BPL families had also been included in the list of beneficiaries.
The FKJGP Jaintia Hills Unit has urged the PHE department in the two districts of Jaintia Hills to take up the matter seriously so that genuine beneficiaries are not cheated under the scheme.
