Women SHGs allege money laundering by block programme manager in Nabarangpur

Nabarangpur: Women Self Helf Groups (SHGs) of Raighar block in Nabarangpur district have levelled money laundering allegations against the Block Programme Manager (BPM) of the district.

Though Rs 20 lakh was collected for insurance purposes from the members of SHGs, they are yet to receive any insurance documents till date from the concerned officials.

Maa Saraswati SHG group members - Kaunli Gonda of Mahubhata village and Priya Biswas of Gajabeda village - alleged that they deposited Rs 350 each for insurance purposes with the BPM.

"After the Block Programme Manager asked me to deposit Rs 350 towards insurance premium, I paid the amount. Though six months have passed, no insurance document was provided to me," said Gonda.

Similarly, Pushpa Mallik and Mamata Sarkar of Gurusingha village in Mahanda panchayat had deposited Rs 442 each for the same purpose.

It is not just these four women of a SHG group, who have paid money for insurance purposes. Money was collected from hundreds of other members of different SHGs in 15 panchayats of the block, said sources.

Meanwhile, after coming to know that the SHG members are provided with free insurance as per the rules specified by the State government, they have demanded strict action against the erring BPMs who are involved in money laundering.

Accepting the charges made by the SHG members, Basant Baliyarsingh, Raighar BPM, said, "I collected the amount as per the directive of the district programme manager. However, I will return the amount to the SHG members soon."

Meanwhile, Deviprasad Talli, BDO, Raighar, said that an inquiry will launched into the allegations and strict action will be taken thereafter against the concerned official.