'Probe on in 479 cases of forgery in educational certificates'

The cases of submission of forged mark sheets and other documents by the public representatives were discovered in Rajasthan following the state government had made minimum educational qualification mandatory to contest the elections for the Panchayati Raj institutions early this year.

Panchayati Raj minister Surendra Goyal has said investigation in around 479 cases of forgery in educational certificates against public representatives is underway in the state and suitable action will be taken if anyone was found guilty. He was talking to media persons in Kota on Friday.

The cases of submission of forged mark sheets and other documents by the public representatives were discovered in Rajasthan following the state government had made minimum educational qualification mandatory to contest the elections for the Panchayati Raj institutions early this year.

Goyal said the police are investigating all the cases of forged mark sheets submitted by the public representatives including sarpanchs. He said the department has also forwarded the complaints received in regard to the concer ned police stations.

Speaking about the development projects, he said the Panchayati Raj department has a budget of Rs 12,000 crore, which will be utilised for the development of rural areas in the state. He said that action would be taken against negligent officials, while those working sincerely would be rewarded. He said complaints pertaining to the Panchayati Raj department are being taken seriously in the state.

Goyal also asked the officials and public representatives to create "assets" in their areas under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to increase the revenue of Panchayati Raj bodies.