Corruption rampant in job, housing and sanitation schemes: ACB

This year, the scheme in which most bribes were taken was the Rojgar Hami Yojana (the employment guarantee scheme), with 40 cases

The Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (ACB) analysis on corruption in welfare schemes in the state has put forth a sombre picture.

Satish Mathur took charge as the new director general of police recently (HT)

The schemes that are most riddled in corruption pertain to employment, housing and sanitation campaign, the latest statistics have revealed.

The number of ACB traps in which government servants were caught accepting bribe in welfare schemes stood at 203 trap cases since 2014.

This year, the scheme in which most bribes were taken was the Rojgar Hami Yojana (the employment guarantee scheme), with 40 cases. This was followed by 23 cases in the Gharkul Yojana, the state government’s housing scheme for the homeless and poor. Other schemes include the Indira Awaas Yojana (19 cases), a social welfare programme created to construct houses in villages for those below poverty line (BPL), and the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan (15 cases), the total sanitation campaign.

A total of 43 welfare schemes promoted by the state and Centre were riddled with corruption.

Corruption cases were reported in schemes for rape survivors, children below poverty line, public health, mid-day meals for schools, women self-help among others.

“Corruption defeats the purpose of such schemes,” said a senior ACB officer.

Rampant corruption has raised concerns over the state’s inefficiency to ensure that the schemes benefit poor and the weaker sections.

“The delivery module of the government should be strengthened. There should also be awareness among those seeking these schemes to report corruption,” said the officer.

A senior ACB official said though the schemes are launched for a good purpose there is lack of supervision, and there should be a vigilance team to monitor and curb corruption.

He added that the government should deposit the money directly into the account of claimants since there are instances when government servants misuse powers and seek bribe to release the amount.