Gangtok: On March 3, the very first state-level Self Help Group Bharosa Samellan was organized by the State Government. The event was attended and addressed by Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay in Jorethang, Namchi district and attended by SHG members from across the State.
However, the said Samellan is under scrutiny of the State Vigilance Department over non-payment of transportation bills for the SHG members by the State Rural Livelihood Mission under the Rural Development Department.
Vigilance senior SP Dhiren Lama said the vigilance department received a complaint that the concerned department has not released the transportation payment of the government event.
Altogether 4,414 unpaid vehicle vouchers claimed by the SHG members amounting to Rs. 1.46 Crores are under scrutiny.
Sikkim Vigilance Department has initiated preliminary investigtion into the alleged non-payment of transportation bills.
Upon interacting with the SRLM chief executive Officer, they learned that the state government had approved funds worth Rs. 3.18 crores to SRLM. Through supplementary grants, the department had Rs. 2 Crores worth of funds which were approved, sanctioned and available in the department. Rs. 79.41 lakhs was spent with Rs. 1.20 Crores still available with the department, learned the State Vigilance Department.
The reason contended by the SRLM officials for non-payment was, “The transportation vouchers submitted were way above the available funds with the department, hence there was non-payment of the transportation bills”.
Vigilance also found 4,414 vouchers in the department, which are under invesigation currently. “We are investigating how genuine the vouchers are. On the reason for non payment, SRLM contended that the claimants were far more than the funds available. If there are false claims and false bills, there will be a case”, said the vigilance senior superintendent of Police Dhiren Lama.
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Based on the complaint, vigilance officials visited SRLM office under the Rural Development Department. They collected some files and documents including transportation vouchers submitted for ferrying the Self Help Group members to the Samellan. The vigilance department is verifying the bills and necessary action will be initiated in case of any discrepancy.
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