Times of India: Raipur: Tuesday, 29 July 2014.
Believe it or
not, many centenarian women aged 100, 200 and even 500 years are sewing and
riding bicycles in Chhattisgarh.
Bizarre as it
sounds, a look at the information provided by Chhattisgarh Labour Department
under RTI about the beneficiaries of Mukhyamantri Silai (sewing) Machine and
Cycle Sahayata Yojanas will confirm the facts. Recipients include women aged
over 100 and 200 years, the 'eldest' being 532 years. Incidentally, all such
entries do not have any addresses mentioned against them.
Call it faux
pas or a scam waiting to be unearthed, the list furnished by the department
does warrant an inquiry, as it shows widespread discrepancies, raising doubts
about the real beneficiaries of the schemes that cost the state over Rs 40
crore.
The two
schemes for distribution of free sewing machines and cycles were launched on
the eve of assembly polls last year to help women labourers working in the
unorganized sector. About 1.15 lakh women across the state reportedly benefited
from the scheme.
While the
cycle scheme was aimed to benefit women in the age group of 18-35, free sewing
machines were for women in the age group of 35 to 60. However, the data shows
that the age group criteria weren't followed at all.
As per RTI
information obtained by activist Sanjeev Aggarwal, about 19,399 sewing machines
were distributed to women in unorganised sector under Chief Minister Silai
Sahayta Yojana in Raipur. The list of beneficiaries includes 6,189 women who
were shown aged 114 years. Besides these, the list has six women showing age
202 years, three showing aged 212 years, two showing aged 282 years. There were
at least 14 women shown above 300 years, seven in their 400s. Age of one woman
was mentioned as 532 years.
Taking to
TOI, Aggarwal said this misinformation could be just a tip of the iceberg, as
the data obtained by him pertained only to Raipur. "If the information
provided is correct, then beneficiaries' list has been fudged," he said.
When
contacted, deputy labour commissioner Savita Mishra said this mistake could
have happened because of a software malfunction. However, she expressed
surprise as to how incorrect information could be given under RTI. "I am
writing to the concerned officers for conducting an inquiry to ascertain the
facts," she said adding that whosoever is found guilty would not be
spared.
As per RTI
information obtained by activist Sanjeev Aggarwal, about 19,399 sewing machines
were distributed to women in unorganised sector under Chief Minister Silai
Sahayta Yojana in Raipur.
The list of
beneficiaries includes 6,189 women who were shown aged 114 years. Besides
these, the list has six women showing age 202 years, three showing aged 212
years, two showing aged 282 years.
There were at
least 14 women shown above 300 years, seven in their 400s.
Age of one
woman was mentioned as 532 years.Taking to TOI, Aggarwal said this
misinformation could be just a tip of the iceberg, as the data obtained by him
pertained only to Raipur. "If the information provided is correct, then
beneficiaries' list has been fudged," he said.
When
contacted, deputy labour commissioner Savita Mishra said this mistake could
have happened because of a software malfunction. However, she expressed
surprise as to how incorrect information could be given under RTI.
"I am
writing to the concerned officers for conducting an inquiry to ascertain the
facts," she said adding that whosoever is found guilty would not be
spared.