Major irregularities have surfaced in a state-run scheme that provides financial assistance to girls belonging to the economically backward families for their marriages. Around Rs 86 lakh were swindled allegedly by middlemen and officials of the Social Welfare department in Pratapgarh district.

Cutting across the party lines, MPs and MLAs reportedly raised the issue at a meeting of district panchayat last week.

BSP legislator Brijesh Sau-rabh, SP parliamentarian Sailendra Kumar, Congress parliamentarian Ratna Singh, Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tiwari, BJP legislator Moti Singh and others leaders have demanded a detailed inquiry into the scam. They also demanded lodging of an FIR and recovery of the money. District Magistrate Niteshwar Kumar has ordered SDM (Sadar) Vipin Mishra to conduct an inquiry.

Under the scheme, the Social Welfare department provides Rs 10,000 to the girls after their parents make a written request. Before giving the money, the facts contained in the request letter, the copy of the BPL card and the wedding invitation card are verified by the village pradhan and the district social welfare office. It is alleged that officials, working in cahoots with middlemen, swindled the money by producing fake marriage and BPL cards.

Kushfara village resident Ram Khelawan has an eight-year-old daughter, Madhuri. “She is a school-going kid but Rs 10,000 was paid for her marriage. A fake marriage card and BPL card were submitted and the money was withdrawn by someone in my name,” said Khelawan.

Gayaprashad of the same village married off his daughter earlier this year, but never applied for financial assistance. Someone, however, withdrew the money by opening a fake account in Gayaprashad’s name.

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