JOIN USDiscrepancies in processing applications; ineligible beneficiaries galore .
The implementation of Bhagyalakshmi scheme is bogged down by many lacunae such as delays and discrepancies in processing applications as well as ineligible beneficiaries, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Launched in the State during 2006-07 for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, the scheme aims to empower girl child by way of financial assistance. Benefits under the scheme are limited to two girls in each BPL family.
Audit scrutiny of the scheme has showed that there were delays in the release of funds to the Life Insurance Corporation of India and reconciliation has not been done with it. In order for the beneficiary girl child to be eligible at the age of 18, the scheme has laid down too many terms and conditions which were not capable of being tracked on a continuous basis, states the report, which was tabled in the Legislative Council on Monday.
This was because the data was not being updated periodically and fields relating to financial data were altogether missing in the database. Hence, the scheme as envisaged was bound to have lots of lacunae in its implementation. This was evident in applications for birth certificates, income certificates, BPL criteria etc.
Tracking of beneficiary children was not done and the department was not aware of the whereabouts of 7,814 children. Coordination committees have not been formed, the report stated.
Housing scheme
Referring to the Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), a flagship scheme of Union Ministry of Rural Development to provide houses to rural masses, the report states that a performance audit of the scheme for 2008-13 showed that only 3.43 lakh houses could be completed against the target of 6.64 lakh houses. Of the 5.47 lakh beneficiaries selected, 3.05 lakh (53 per cent) belonged to the SCs/STs categories and the minorities were 0.75 lakh (13%) — less than the stipulated target of 60 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.
Of the available funds of Rs 2,457.12 crore, an amount of Rs 2,158.67 crore (88 per cent) was utilised during the block period. Financial management was deficient as reconciliation was not done between cash book and bank balances. The Centre had deducted assistance to the extent of Rs 30.90 crore during 2011-12 for late submission of proposals by 15 zilla panchayats, the report said.