Kudumbasree counters corruption charges

The Kudumbasree Community Development Societies (CDS) of the Kozhikode Corporation have alleged a conspiracy by the UDF councillors to ‘portray them in bad light’ by alleging malpractices in the implementation of various CDS projects.

Chairperson of the North CDS P.P. Sheeja and Kudumbasree Project Office Ramsi Ismail told reporters here on Thursday that the Kudumbasree would resist the conspiracy.

The allegations were an attempt to thwart the innovative projects being implemented in the Corporation.

“All activities of the Kudumbasree are transparent. Required procedures have been followed. The CDSs are ready for an open debate on the allegation. Those who made the allegations are ignorant of the Kudumbasree system, SJSRY Scheme, and criteria for subsidy,” Ms. Sheeja said.

She condemned the reference in some of the allegations that Kudumbasree was a private agency.

It was supported by the State and Union governments and was a wing of the local body it was associated with, she said.

Those who alleged that Kudumbasree’s e-shops cost only Rs.50,000, failed to consider the VAT, excise duty, and service tax, which when added to the cost would come to around Rs.80,000. There was no provision to give the land of e-shop on lease to Kudumbasree, she said in reply to another allegation. But they were licensed shops owned by two people.

Mr. Ismail said that allegations about the help-desk kiosk were baseless. The kiosks help the public fill in application forms at the Corporation office and charge a fee for each service.

The Corporation had allotted space for other Kudumbasree projects in similar manner.

There was no need to offer free service at the kiosk. The mission had various other free commitments like Dress Bank, Drug Bank, and counselling centre. However, the services were provided at a subsidised rate for senior citizens. Also, the cost of photostat copies had been reduced to half.

Another allegation was about the Food on Wheels project that was yet to take off. There was no corruption involved in Dress Bank as well, which did not take monetary donations, Mr. Ismail said. He added that the CDSs would together fight against any attempt to thwart the projects.