The issue of alleged embezzlement of funds earmarked for the salaries of safai karamcharis in ward no. 73 raised its head again today.

It may be mentioned that following allegations of fund embezzlement levelled by the workers of Mohalla Sanitation Committees against the area councillor Baby Singh Thakur, the MC Commissioner had marked an inquiry into the matter.

But a few disgruntled workers today said they had little faith on the inquiry being conducted by the MC Commissioner and demanded a vigilance inquiry into the matter.

The workers had alleged that Thakur was not paying them salaries in full and had employed only 34 workers instead of 64 shown in papers.

A deputation of the MC workers will meet the VB officials tomorrow with a formal complaint and urge them to inquire into entire episode. Dr Surjit Singh, one of the social worker, who had highlighted the alleged anomalies in his ward, said, “After the incident was highlighted in the media, many workers are being forced to give affidavits that they are being paid salaries regularly. Hence on that basis if any inquiry report will be submitted, it will be of no use.”

I.S Bharti, another social worker in the area, said, “After the anomalies in this ward, I have recieved complaints from various other wards as well. If VB conducts similar inquiries in all the wards, fund bungling in other wards too will be exposed.”

The workers, Sony Kumar, Ashok Kumar and few others said, “After our case was highlighted, for the first time we got full salary cheque worth Rs 3,600 last month. Earlier, we used to get in the range of Rs 2,000-25,00 and rest of the money used to be pouched by the councillor.”

... contd.