Over 2 lakh duped in name of Beti Bachao scheme, Maneka for CBI probe
NEW DELHI: The Women and Child Development Ministry has sought a CBI probe after an estimated two lakh people from five states were reportedly duped in the name of the Centre’s ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ (BBBP) scheme.
According to a senior official, the move comes after the ministry received over 2 lakh “fake” forms filled by people seeking cash benefit under the BBBP scheme.
“There is no provision for cash benefit under the programme. These people were made to pay for these illegal forms, disclose personal details and misled into believing they could claim a monetary benefit,” an official statement said on Tuesday.
“Keeping in view the public interest and gravity of the matter, the case has now been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for probe into the matter,” it said.
The five states where these forms were sold are Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Bihar. Earlier, the ministry had also taken up the matter with the governments of these states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project, BBBP, was launched to combat poor child sex ratio and aims to celebrate the birth of girl child and prevent female foeticide.
It is being implemented in 100 selected districts through a national campaign as well as steps being taken to ensure survival, protection and education of the girl child. NEW DELHI: The government has procured or contracted for imports about 14.66 lakh tonnes of pulses to create a buffer stock, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
“The government has approved creation of buffer up to 20 lakh tonnes of pulses. As on March 8, 2017, around 14.66 lakh tonnes of pulses have been procured or contracted for imports towards building the buffer,” MOS for Food and Consumer Affairs C R Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The government has contracted for imports 4.06 lakh tonnes of pulses for the buffer stock, he added. The government has approved engaging a professional Buffer Stock Management Agency for efficient management of procurement, storage, maintenance and liquidation of the stock as per government directive from time to time, Chaudhary added.
“The agency for designing and managing the bid process has been selected. Contract for appointment is being finalised,” the minister said. Pulses production is estimated at record 22.14 million tonnes in the 2016-17 crop year as against about 16.5 million tonnes in the previous year. The annual demand is about 24-25 million tonnes.