Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 10: In a shocking development that has come to the fore, Job Cards under MGNREGA Scheme have been issued to around 91 minors who have been shown as adults in Heerpora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
The locals in the area told Excelsior that around 91 students who are minors have been provided with the fake job cards after which the locals have complained to a local Police Station.
“Few children had gone to fill scholarship forms but they were told that they are not eligible for the same as they have been provided with job cards,” locals said.
Excelsior has learnt that the list had around 91 names out of which 47 have been verified by the police and they found that these minors fall in the age group 6, 7 and 10 years. Notably, these minors have been shown in the age group of the 40s and above.
The investigation was prompted when the forms of various children were rejected stating that they have availed a job card. “After that, we carried out an investigation on our own and came to know that there is a big scam that has been going on,” locals said.
After that, a complaint was filed along with the relevant documents in the concerned department as well as the police which is investigating in this regard.
In this regard, the locals also went to the SSP Shopian who has directed the SHO Heerpora to investigate the matter. He has also assured people that action will be taken in this regard.
Officials said that an FIR has been lodged in Heerpora Police Station vide FIR no. 02/2020 under Sections 406,409,419 and 420 IPC and further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, the Director of Rural Development Department, Kashmir Qazi Sarwar told Excelsior that the matter has been brought into his notice and that he has ordered an inquiry into the matter.
“There is an issue of issuing the Job Cards in the name of minors; let the inquiry report come, strict action will be taken against those who are found involved in it,” he said.
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