Inquiries by authorities into financial irregularities in the Shaadi Mubarak scheme have revealed that 145 people were paid twice, which led to a loss of about Rs. 66 lakh to the Telangana State Minorities Welfare Department (TSMWD).
“Luckily for us, the whole process of the Shaadi Mubarak scheme is done online. Each application can be sent to the treasury officer only once online, after which the money is sent via online transfer. That is how we were informed that money was sent twice,” said a senior official from the TSMWD, requesting anonymity. He also said that about Rs. 49 lakh has been recovered already from the Rs. 66 lakh which was sent.
The TSMWD official informed that accounts were frozen to recover the money in some cases, while in other cases, applicants themselves returned the money. “No irregularity took place from the head-office, because the bill is scrutinised by the treasury officer after an application is forwarded, and subsequently the money is released by him,” he explained, and added that the remaining amount will be recovered shortly, and action will be taken against errant officials.
Target achieved
Since it was initiated, the TSMWD has received 23,847 applications till date, out which 17,988 were verified, following which money was sanctioned for the families of the girls. Of the total applicants, 8,201 were from Hyderabad alone, out of which money for 5,455 of them has been sanctioned.
Syed Omar Jaleel, special secretary, TSMWD, said that the department achieved more than the target it had set out when the Shadi Mubarak was started on October 2 last year. “Our target was 20,000 marriages for the year 2015-16,” he mentioned. Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs. 51,000 will be provided to minority girls residing in Telangana by the government. So far, Rs. 91.73 crore has been spent on it.
To apply for the scheme, an applicant must submit residence proof, income certificate from the competent authority, birth certificate and other documents. The application can be made online only on the website http://telanganaepass.cgg.gov.in/.
Though minorities welfare department lost Rs. 66 lakh in the process, Rs. 49 lakh has been recovered already
