Berhampur: After alleged irregularities in the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme triggered a political slugfest in Odisha, a couple of months ago, ‘massive lapses’ are once again being alleged by beneficiaries.
Around 94 farmers in Jahada panchayat of Ganjam district have alleged that the money meant for them under the scheme has been credited to someone else's bank account.
Farmer Indramani Behera's name in the KALIA beneficiary list bears an account number which is not his. Surprisingly, another beneficiary, Gopalini Das' KALIA money was also deposited in the same account number to which Behera's money was credited.
"When we inquired about the money in the bank, we get to know that our account numbers have been changed. When we apprised the cooperative society about it, they did not respond," alleged a farmer of Singipur village under Dharakote block in the district.
However, the cooperative society, which collected the details of the KALIA beneficiaries, clarified that a data entry operator named Basudev Sahoo was hired on contractual basis for the data entry and he allegedly changed the farmers' account numbers with that of his relatives.
"A boy was hired on a three-month contractual basis by the society. He uploaded bank account numbers of his relatives instead of the farmers'. When I came to know about the matter, I tried to contact him but he didn't turn up. So, I apprised the matter to the higher authorities," said Kailash Chandra Mallick, secretary of Dhabaleswar cooperative society, Singhipur.
On the other hand, Atasi Kusumkant Behera, Branch Manager of Indian Overseas Bank, Jahada said, "I noticed that KALIA money has been credited to a particular account thrice. I thought there might be some fault but couldn't disclose it as it was against banking norms."
"We are yet to get any written complaint. Only after a complaint is registered, an inquiry will be done and action will be taken," said Bibudh Gadnayak, Dharakote BDO.
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