Umeed Yojana scam - Two caught inflating attendance

Probe against Saath Charitable, Shanti Educational Initiative for faking number of students to gain more money

Two organisations working for the marginalised sections of society have come under AMC scanner after civic officials detected malpractice in their dealings. The vigilance department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has initiated an inquiry against two public welfare organisations -Saath Charitable and Shanti Educational Initiative (SEI) --after malpractice was found in their Umeed scheme to provide vocational training to the poor.

According to the vigilance report available with Mirror, the attendance sheet of students was found to be have been manipulated by the organisations. This would provide them monetary gains, according to a civic official.The vigilance department has submitted the report to Municipal Commissioner D Thara who will decide on the case.

In the report dated January 31, 2015, it was revealed that AMC has held payment to these two organisations until they are cleared of any wrongdoing.

“During investigation it was found that the organisations had shown more number of students in the attendance sheet. Now, the grant for seven weeks for four batches has been stopped until the AMC commissioner approves of it following a thorough probe,“ said a senior official of Urban Commu nity Development.“As per the scheme, organisations chose their own students. After scrutiny, government would provide money depending on the number of students. They were given Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000 per student,“ said the official.The organisations had to meet certain criteria. But they failed to do so and falsified the attendance to gain more money, the offi cial alleged.

AMC officials had made several requests to Shanti Educational Initiative to submit the supporting documents to claim the funds but they never got back, complained an official.

GIVING HOPE

Umeed was an initiative of the state government aimed at provid ing vocational training to the un derprivileged sections of society.

It was part of Garib Samruddhi Yojana (Empowerment of Urban Poor) launched in 2007 and re newed thereafter in 2012. Howev er, Umeed Yojana was stopped in 2014 by AMC. It will soon be re placed by another similar scheme.

Around 15 organisations were in volved in the scheme “which in volved market-driven, aptitude based skill upgradation of margin alized sections, for gainful employment and self-employment of the urban poor in the age group of 18-35 years,“ stated the web site of urban development and ur ban housing department.