Malkangiri: Even as the Centre and the state float several schemes to make women, especially those in remote regions, self-reliant through self-help groups (SHGs), these institutions are often misused for misappropriation of government funds, according to a report.
One such case recently surfaced in Mauliguda village under Sadar block where funds granted to Jay Hanuman Swyam Sahayak Gosthi, an SHG, were siphoned off by brokers and bank officials.
“Initially we were reluctant to take loan from the bank, but had to give in as some bank officers lured us promising economic prosperity. Now, we came to know that the officials had taken advantage of our innocence and left us in the lurch,” said some members of the SHG.
According to reports, the bank authorities and some middlemen convinced the women to start goat rearing after taking a loan from the bank under the government’s Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY). Following the advice of the officials, the women formed the SHG in 2010 and opened an account in Padmagiri branch of Utkal Gramya Bank.
The members were more than excited when Rs 55,080 was credited to their account December 11, 2011. They constructed a goat shed with the money.
Hari Hantala, the peon of the bank, had taken the thumb impressions of the SHG members in 2012 after handing them Rs 50,000 in two installments. At that time he had collected the bank passbook and other related documents from the members. However, Hantala didn’t return the passbook to the SHG.
The women were shocked when the passbook was returned to them in September 27, 2013. The transactions in the passbook reflected that more money was deposited in the account of the group and also withdrawn.
It was also learnt that the bank sanctioned loan worth Rs 3, 57,500 to the group May 18, 2015 and also served a notice on them for failing to repay Rs 1, 84,700. The SHG had no connection with these transactions, its secretary Ratna Kirsani and other members said and lodged a complaint with the collector and MLA over the issue.
Based on the complaint, MLA Manas Madkami sent a letter to the bank manager concerned asking him to take appropriate measures in this direction.
Apart from Mauliguda, the SHGs of Mariapali, Bailapari, Chandanguda, Dumaguda and Batiguda villages were also duped in a similar fashion, it was learnt. A few groups are learnt to have lodged FIRs with Malkangiri police.
Ghost loans to the tune of over Rs 50 lakh have been sanctioned in the name of SHGs of the block, it was alleged.
While the administration is yet to take action in this regard, bank manager Sanjit Kumar Sikdar, who recently took charge, said he would take action after going through the documents. PNN