Odisha Govt Paid Over Rs 782 Cr To 12.72 Lakh Ineligible Beneficiaries Under KALIA Scheme: CAG Report

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government paid more than Rs 780 crore to over 12 lakh ineligible beneficiaries under its KALIA scheme, according to CAG report.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi table the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in the Assembly on Wednesday.

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 its KALIA 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.