Guwahati : A multi-crore rupees scam has been detected in the process of implementation of an Employment Generation Mission (EGM) under the previous Congress government in Assam headed by chief minister Tarun Gogoi.
The state government has ordered an inquiry while the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau of the state police is also investigating the matter.
The irregularities were detected during an audit of accounts carried out by the Accountant General (Audit) between October 11, 2010 and November 10, 2010. The audit report was submitted to the secretary of the Labour and Employment department of the state government early last year.
A copy of the audit report, which was submitted in the state Legislative Assembly on Saturday by Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Development Department minister Chandra Mohan Patowary in response to a written question, said fictitious utilization certificates for Rs 1.96 crore was submitted under EGM.
Meanwhile, in his reaction former chief minister and an incumbent MLA, Tarun Gogoi, said, “Let them inquire into all allegations against me. If they find any wrongdoing on my part, I am ready to go to jail,” Gogoi said.
“We are not sadhus and saints like many in power today who vow to eradicate corruption totally. We are mere politicians and we think that eradicating corruption is not possible, but we tried to bring it down to the least,” Gogoi said while admitting there were instances of corruption during the previous Congress regime in the state.
Schematic fund of Rs 33.54 crore was deposited in the bank, leading to unauthorized earning of interest of Rs 23.45 lakh, the report stated.
Moreover, the audit detected unfruitful expenditure of Rs 67 lakh, irregular implementation of scheme of Rs 70 lakh under EGM. An interest of Rs 204.81 lakh earned out of government fund by implementing agency was neither utilized nor refunded.
The EGM, a three-year mission to generate employment and stimulate economy by providing mainly self-employment to the unemployed and additional work for the under-employed, was started in March 2007.
The total capital outlay of the mission which was launched in March 2007, for three years, was Rs 669 crore, of which Rs 320 crore was to be provided by the government and remaining by the farmer/banker, to generate 1.67 lakh jobs.
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