The District Development Officer, Arpit Upadhyay, has constituted a two-member committee to investigate the allegations of corruption against District Social Welfare Officer, Srishti Awasthi. The committee includes the District Development Officer along with the Minority Welfare Officer.
Raebareli: The functioning of the Social Welfare Department in the Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh has come under scrutiny. Serious allegations of corruption have been leveled against the District Social Welfare Officer, Srishti Awasthi. Following the instructions of District Magistrate Harshita Mathur, a two-member committee has been formed to investigate the matter. The allegations include several points, ranging from taking facilitation fees in schemes to irregularities in hostels and schools.
DM Forms Investigation Team
District Development Officer Arpit Upadhyay has formed a committee to investigate the allegations against the Social Welfare Officer. The team includes the District Development Officer and the Minority Welfare Officer. The committee has been instructed to submit its report to the District Magistrate within 7 days. The CDO has stated that the investigation process will be transparent, and all points will be investigated in the presence of the complainant. Additionally, the report must be submitted with a joint statement and photographic evidence.
Complainant's Allegations
Vijay Pratap Singh, a resident of Pipri Gurubakshganj, has written a letter to the District Magistrate, levelling serious allegations of corruption against the Social Welfare Officer on seven points. According to him:
- The same firm was repeatedly awarded the contract for purchasing goods at the Jayaprakash Narayan Vidyalaya, which belongs to a relative of Mukesh Singh, a clerk in the department.
- Beneficiaries were allegedly charged facilitation fees for old age pension and family benefit schemes.
- Money was collected for personal gain by growing crops on land in Nihastha and Jadavganj.
- The catering tender for three schools was repeatedly awarded to the same firm, and a 10% commission was taken on payments.
- Allegations were made that bogus works were carried out in hostels within two years and payments were made after taking commission.
- In the hostel food arrangement, only ₹75 was spent on children's malnourished food instead of the ordered rate of ₹114 per plate.
- The complainant has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the functioning of the officer's entire tenure.
District Magistrate Harshita Mathur Said
District Magistrate Harshita Mathur said that the matter has been taken seriously and a fair investigation will be ensured. She clarified that further action will be decided after receiving the investigation report. An attempt was made to get the perspective of District Social Welfare Officer Srishti Awasthi. She said that she does not know who made the complaint, but she is aware that a committee has been formed for the investigation. She says that only the officials of the investigation committee can provide detailed information on this.
