Grain container scam surfaces, two SBS Nagar officers in dock

Vishav Bharti

Chandigarh, June 14

A scam in the purchase of foodgrain containers for anganwari centres in SBS Nagar district has rocked the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department. The department has ordered charge sheet against two district programme officers, who had purchased low-quality containers. Their capacity, too, was half of that required as per norms.

The issue pertains to 2015, when the state government had received a grant for the development of basic amenities in anganwari centres under the Supplementary Nutrition Scheme. In SBS Nagar district, Anshu Thakur (now superannuated), who was posted as District Programme Officer, placed an order of 3,108 containers with a capacity of one quintal each. Every anganwari centre of the district was to be given four containers.

However, in gross violation of General Financial Rules, the district programme officer not only gave Rs 92.61 lakh as advance to the supplier but also purchased the containers having capacity of just 50 kg despite making payment against container having 1 quintal capacity. Apart from that, the containers were grossly underweight and of low quality.

These irregularities were first spotted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and they made a para in their report “Loss of state exchequer due to undue favour to the contractor”.

Later, the department also started its probe and found that if Anshu Thakur was responsible for favouring the contractor by giving advance and purchasing low-quality and low-capacity containers, then another official, Amarjeet Singh Bhullar, who succeeded Thakur as District Programme Officer was equally responsible as the supply of the faulty containers was made to all centres under his supervision. The probe found that Bhullar did not check the quality of the containers and returned the earnest money of the supplier without checking the conditions of the tender.

After an inquiry, the department has proposed that Rs 6.94 lakh, which is the interest of the amount Rs 92.61 lakh which was given as an advance to the supplier should be recovered from both officials. Similarly a charge sheet should be issued to both.

Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Baljit Kaur said the issue was in her knowledge but there were some procedural lapses during inquiry, which would be addressed and action would be taken against erring officials. Arvind Pal Singh Sandhu, Director Social Security, Women and Child Development, said the matter is still under process.

Vessels underweight, of poor quality

The Social Security, Women and Child Development Department has ordered charge sheet against the two district programme officers, who had purchased low-quality containers. Their capacity, too, was half of that required as per norms.