The Vigilance Organsation today unearthed a scam worth over Rs 56 lakh in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Samba district and booked officials for involvement in it.
“Following allegations of irregularities in purchase of nutritional and non-nutritional items in the ICDS, a check was conducted by the Vigilance Organisation, Jammu,” said an official.
“It revealed that the District Social Welfare Officer, Samba, in the capacity of Nodal Officer, ICDS project, Samba, had floated four tenders for purchase of nutritional items before the creation of a separate Integrated Child Development Scheme mission in violation of norms,” he said.
The fifth tender was floated by the Programme Officer, ICDS, Samba, and the district purchase committee constituted by the government.
During inquiry, it was found that all Child Development Programme Officers of the ICDS project, in connivance with the District Programme Officer, ICDS, had purchased non-nutritional items and medicines at their own level for an amount of Rs 56,08,777 without inviting tenders, said the official.
The acts of omission and commission on the part of Vipan Kumari, Programme Officer, ICDS project, Samba, Child Development Programme Officers Parvesh Sharma, Bharti Sharma, Seema Bharti and Babu Ram and members of the purchase committee and others were established, he added.
An FIR was registered against the accused at the Vigilance Organisation office, Jammu, and further investigation taken up.
