Cops raid directorate of social welfare

GUWAHATI: In yet another crackdown against corruption, Assam Police's vigilance and anti-corruption wing raided the Directorate of Social Welfare (DSW) office here on Friday.
The move comes in the wake of chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal ordering stringent action against those involved in a financial scam to the tune of Rs 2,250 crore in the last 15 years.
An official of the department was detained by anti-corruption sleuths while he was allegedly trying to sneak out of the office complex with at least Rs 5 lakh in his car."We are quizzing him and raiding some other private locations too," said an anti-corruption official.
Sources said vital documents relating to financial grants given to various Anganwadi centers over the last couple of years were collected during the raid. "The documents will be cross checked. Huge amount of government fund is suspected to have been swindled in the name of granting aid to Anganwadi centers in the state," said the official.
Two months ago, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal pressed for streamlining the social welfare department after various reports indicated huge irregularities in the department. A probe revealed that a sum of around Rs 150 crore was allegedly siphoned off annually in the name of supplying nutritious food to some nine lakh children who never existed.
An official said, "The total figure of 44 lakhs children has been reduced to 35 lakhs after these detections. Similarly, 390 fake Anganwadi centers have been identified. As a result of these detections, monthly expenditure required for supplementary mutrition programme meant for mothers and children has been brought down drastically."
Immediately after Sonowal was informed about the irregularities, he said functionaries of the social welfare department involved in nefarious activities along with the contractors will be punished.
"Rampant corruption has stalled service delivery of the department. The rising rates of maternal and infant mortality are a fall out of these irregularities," said Sonowal.
Investigation revealed that a huge amount of public money was swindled during the former Congress government's reign. "In many cases, Anganwadi centers were found to have registered these 'ghost kids' and took away the money meant for their food and immunization. Many such centers were even found to be operating from unhygienic places," a source said.