Duplications in pourakarmika list expose Palike's muster roll scam

The list of pourakarmikas (civic workers) on contract put up by the BBMP on its website substantiates the charges of bogus muster roll and loot of public money.

Following allegations of bogus muster rolls, the BBMP put up the ward-wise list of pourakarmikas on contract on its website. The list throws up interesting details. The list has all details about the civic workers.

Take the case of Mangalamma from Thalaghattapura, who is employed in the Uttarahalli ward. Her name figures along with the same address, ESI-PF details and Aadhaar number at four places. However, she has got four different pourakarmika registration numbers.

Vajramma and Adavakka are two other such cases. There are two Vajrammas in Thalaghattapura, with different registration numbers, ESI-PF, Aadhaar numbers. Adavakka’s name figures twice in the list with same ESI-PF and Aadhaar numbers, but the registration numbers are different. The pictures of Adavakka and Vajramma featuring in the lists are the same.

The BBMP has made it mandatory for the pourakarmikas to provide their Aadhaar card details and photographs. However, Aadhaar details and photographs of some of them are missing from the list.

The BBMP has also reduced the size of the images in the lists to such an extent that it is impossible to identify the person. In the list for Shanthalanagar ward, pourakarmika Uma’s name appears twice – one has Aadhaar number, while the other does not.

“This fraud took a toll on Bengaluru’s image in the recent Swachh Survekshan-2017. The fraudsters, including BBMP engineers and contractors, should not go unpunished,” said an activist.

When these discrepancies were brought to the notice of BBMP joint commissioner Sarfaraz Khan, he conceded that this is a case of manipulation.

“Whatever you have highlighted is serious and important. I will scrutinise the lists and make sure that those behind the manipulation are punished,” said Khan. He said he is making the Aadhaar number mandatory so that the BBMP can keep track of the pourakarmikas.