'Massive financial irregularities' surface in Mission Shakti laptop procurement in Odisha

Allegations of financial irregularities have surfaced regarding laptop procurement for the Mission Shakti initiative, possibly tied to the 2024 General Elections. Funds of Rs 50,000 each allocated for the purchase of laptops have been ‘misappropriated’, sources said on Wednesday.

This casts a shadow over the MBK (Master Book Keeper) and Bank Mitra.

Laptops sanctioned for distribution by the Social Welfare department appear to be unaccounted for despite the issuance of utilisation certificates (UCs).

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Funds were reportedly drawn in February 2024, yet a Right to Information (RTI) query has highlighted significant discrepancies in the financial accounting. Fraudulent records as well as fictitious invoices are alleged to have been used to mislead the financial trail.

In Khordha district, Palla-Totapada MBK Pragati Mohapatra allegedly acquired a laptop only in November, last year, long after billing for it.

Further inconsistencies were reported in the Chilika block, where Punjiama MBK Sugyani Hota is said to have acquired a laptop on December 18, 2024 (around 10 months after the fund was received, raising eyebrows with two separate bills of Rs 40,000 and Rs 49,462 submitted, despite initially receiving Rs 50,000.

Interestingly, Sugyani Hota submitted the second bill after she came to learn that she would have to return the differential amount of Rs 10,000.

Gambharimunda MBK Manapriya Palei is allegedly involved in the financial misconduct of laptop purchase as she has submitted a bill amounting to Rs 92,490 last October, despite receiving an advance of Rs 50,000 only.

In a related incident in October, 2024, an MBK named Nirupama Parida submitted a bill for a laptop, purportedly bought for her son. Another MBK Prajojita Swain submitted a quotation totalling Rs 45,000, although no laptop was purchased.

The incidents raise questions about financial processes within the local governance body. There is growing concern over the delayed reaction and lack of accountability.

District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO), Khordha has stated that those implicated would be held responsible pending verification of any wrongdoing. However, the questions remain over delayed procurement and a nearly ten-month lag in issuing invoices.

“Since we e-transferred the funds to Block Level Federations (BLFs) of Mission Shakti self-help groups, we submitted the UCs accordingly. The BLFs were provided with government funds and they are supposed to utilise those properly. If they have not purchased laptops and misutilised the funds, we will certainly take action against the wrongdoers,” Khordha DSWO Kusum Kumari Praharaj said when contacted.

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A total of 251 beneficiaries in Khordha district have been allocated Rs 1.25 Crore as part of the State government assistance initiative. The disbursement was managed by the DSWO, aiming to provide financial relief to those in need.

In July 2024, the DSWO submitted Utilisation Certificates (UCs) to the authorities, ensuring that the funds were spent effectively and transparently, thereby upholding accountability in the use of public resources.

Officials from the Mission Shakti initiative and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) are yet to provide comments on the allegations.