A senior Congress leader in Odisha has fired off a strong letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, demanding tough action against government officials accused of siphoning off funds meant for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes communities.
Rama Chandra Kadam, the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), pointed to a fresh Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report that exposed major financial irregularities in the state’s Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) schemes. The report, presented in the Odisha Assembly just a day earlier, highlights how welfare money got diverted and possibly laundered by assistant engineers and junior engineers.
In his letter, Kadam didn’t hold back. “This CAG report on ST/SC development schemes under ITDA in Odisha reveals serious lapses and financial misappropriation,” he wrote. He accused these engineers of using the funds—earmarked to help vulnerable groups—for illegal activities like money laundering. “These schemes aim to uplift the most needy communities, but such unethical moves by officials not only defeat their purpose but also shatter public faith in the government,” Kadam added.
The audit covered 11 ITDAs from 2018-19 to 2022-23 and uncovered suspicions of Rs 148.75 crore being misused through 71 bank accounts run by these engineers. Kadam called this a deep betrayal, especially for Odisha’s ST/SC groups who depend on these initiatives to tackle long-standing challenges.
He pressed the chief minister to launch a quick, independent probe into the Odisha financial misappropriation scandal, punish everyone involved, and recover the lost funds. Kadam also wants better oversight to keep future welfare programs transparent and honest. Plus, he urged making the investigation results and punishments public to rebuild trust among these communities.
“Stealing from ST/SC welfare isn’t just a money crime—it’s a stab at their hopes and progress,” the letter emphasized. Kadam stressed that decisive steps against the guilty officials would promote real justice, accountability, and growth for all in Odisha.
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