PORVORIM
Goa Forward Party met the Accountant General at Audit Bhavan in Porvorim on Friday and submitted a memorandum demanding a complete audit of the State government's scheme to provide financial assistance to Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking to reporters in the presence of Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgoankar and GFP Vice President Durgadas Kamat, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said the Goa Lokayukta in his order on September 16 had highlighted glaring irregularities and mismanagement of funds and had directed the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to register an FIR against unknown persons for a "conspiracy to siphon off funds".
“The Lokayukta had observed that a company was engaged to operate skill training programmes for BOCWs without undertaking any tendering, despite some reservations expressed by trade union leaders.”
“The MoU was entered between the company and the Welfare Board on January 17, 2019,” said Sardesai.
He said the Lokayukta had observed that the company did not meet the targets set out in MoU and the same was renewed on January 17 this year, which was contrary to the conditions as agreed upon.
“Further, the Lokayukta observed mismanagement of funds wherein the company informed the Welfare Board on January 8 that 14,282 workers had been mobilised, of which 5,452 had registered for the RPL programme.”
“On the contrary, in response to the questionnaire dated August 26, the Labour Commissioner stated that 7,812 workers had successfully completed training for 120 hours (8 hours a day for 15 days) and that a sum of Rs 2,54,95,053 was paid in 2020 as training cost at Rs 37.50 per hour, as fixed by the government.”
“It is stated that the contradictions arise with the fact that the fees to train 7,812 workers for 120 hours at Rs 37.50 per hour amounts to Rs 3.52 crore and not Rs 2.55 crore as stated by the Labour Commissioner,” said Sardesai.
