Odisha Deputy CM On Steps After CAG Report On KALIA Scheme Mismanagement

Bhubaneswar: With the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) detecting payment of Rs 782.26 crore to 12 lakh ineligible people under KALIA scheme in Odisha, the state government on Thursday said it will thoroughly examine the report before initiating any step.

Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo, who is holding Agriculture portfolio, said that the CAG report will be thoroughly examined by the government before any step is taken in the matter.

Since it is reported that it may not be possible to recover the payment made to such ineligible people, the report will be first examined carefully and appropriate steps taken thereafter.

As per the CAG report tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday, the Odisha government paid Rs 782.26 crore to over 12 lakh ineligible beneficiaries under its KALIA scheme.

During its audit, the CAG analysed the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) database in reference to other databases like SECC, VAHAN, IFMS and HRMS. The analysis revealed that the government had transferred Rs 782.26 crore to 12.72 lakh ineligible beneficiaries under the scheme.

The CAG report said KALIA assistance was paid to 65.64 lakh beneficiaries in 2019-21. The assistance was paid in three instalments to 41.64 lakh beneficiaries, twice to 8.09 lakh and only once to 15.91 lakh. The discrepancy was noted due to identification of 9.76 lakh ineligible beneficiaries, the report said.

The audit of Co-operation Department revealed that 20 mobile Automated Teller Machine (ATM) vans procured by it were non-functional. The department had launched ‘Bank on Wheels’ through the Odisha State Co-operative Bank (OSCB) Limited in financial year 2013-14.

OSCB spent Rs 8.69 crore for procurement of 20 ATM vans and allied items, as well as annual maintenance cost from April 2016 to March 2020. But all 20 ATM vans were found to be non-functional as of March 2021. While two ATM vans had not functioned for a day, 17 ATM vans functioned only for 18 to 60 days, the CAG pointed out in its report.