MAPUSA
Questioning the process of issuing OBC certificates to applicants, an activist and a citizen of Siolim, Joseph Agnel Noronha, alleged that there was complicity between officials and applicants leading to open "sale" of such OBC certificates.
"Some influential persons manipulate the system along with bureaucrats to fraudulently obtain OBC certificates to contest local elections. In many cases, government officials collude with such persons," said Noronha while addressing a news conference in Sodiem.
Armed with documents obtained through RTI, Noronha revealed that one panch member of Siolim-Marna managed to obtain an OBC certificate in 2012 by producing dubious documents and the deputy collector's office issued him the OBC certificate without conducting proper investigation.
"The Mapusa deputy collector's office issued an OBC certificate to a candidate from Siolim in 2012 who was subsequently elected as panch. This certificate does not have a single document to show that the beneficiary of the certificate is of render (toddy tapper) community as claimed by him," Noronha said.
"All certificates and documents produced and attached by the claimant are of one person from Chopdem. I don't know how this certificate has been issued to this gentleman," he added.
Suspecting complicity of officials in issuing such certificates, the activist said he had sought information of OBC families in Siolim-Marna from the commissioner of backward classes through RTI.
The department released the information through a long list which showed three render community families in the village on item no 18 on the list.
However, the commissioner failed to provide the names and addresses of the three render families saying that "the information was not available."
"If they can pin point that there are three families of render community, then how can they not have their names and addresses," Noronha questioned.
Noronha further disclosed that he had sought similar information form the social welfare department but the department also failed to provide the required information.
"The absence of proper record clearly raises suspicion of the functioning of the departments and the way the certificates are issued to claimants," Noronha said.
He further said one of the deputy collectors had said that such provisional OBC certificates were issued by the department from time to time.
"Does this mean that the certificates are issued only to contest election? I appeal to Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar to take cognizance of the corruption in the departments," he added.
Questioning the process of issuing OBC certificates to applicants, an activist and a citizen of Siolim, Joseph Agnel Noronha, alleged that there was complicity between officials and applicants leading to open "sale" of such OBC certificates.
"Some influential persons manipulate the system along with bureaucrats to fraudulently obtain OBC certificates to contest local elections. In many cases, government officials collude with such persons," said Noronha while addressing a news conference in Sodiem.
Armed with documents obtained through RTI, Noronha revealed that one panch member of Siolim-Marna managed to obtain an OBC certificate in 2012 by producing dubious documents and the deputy collector's office issued him the OBC certificate without conducting proper investigation.
"The Mapusa deputy collector's office issued an OBC certificate to a candidate from Siolim in 2012 who was subsequently elected as panch. This certificate does not have a single document to show that the beneficiary of the certificate is of render (toddy tapper) community as claimed by him," Noronha said.
"All certificates and documents produced and attached by the claimant are of one person from Chopdem. I don't know how this certificate has been issued to this gentleman," he added.
Suspecting complicity of officials in issuing such certificates, the activist said he had sought information of OBC families in Siolim-Marna from the commissioner of backward classes through RTI.
The department released the information through a long list which showed three render community families in the village on item no 18 on the list.
However, the commissioner failed to provide the names and addresses of the three render families saying that "the information was not available."
"If they can pin point that there are three families of render community, then how can they not have their names and addresses," Noronha questioned.
Noronha further disclosed that he had sought similar information form the social welfare department but the department also failed to provide the required information.
"The absence of proper record clearly raises suspicion of the functioning of the departments and the way the certificates are issued to claimants," Noronha said.
He further said one of the deputy collectors had said that such provisional OBC certificates were issued by the department from time to time.
"Does this mean that the certificates are issued only to contest election? I appeal to Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar to take cognizance of the corruption in the departments," he added.
