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RTI helps complainant to get the matter investigated at highest level
FINALLY, Raj Bhavan has taken cognizance of irregularities in PM's Ujjwala Yojna in J&K particularly in district Budgam. The Lt Governor's Secretariat recently directed the Commissioner Secretary to Govt Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS & CA) to probe the matter and submit the report within 3 days. For more than a year, several complaints had been pouring in from different areas of J&K particularly in the upper reaches of Budgam district where people were looted by LPG companies. People had to pay money for Ujjwala LPG cylinders and stoves which otherwise were to be given free of cost.
Taking cognizance of a complaint filed by an RTI activist Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, a resident of Batwodder Surasyar Chadoora in district Budgam, the LG's Secretariat directed the Commissioner Secretary FCS & CA to get the matter enquired thoroughly . He has also been asked to submit the report to LGs Secretariat by March 3rd 2022 .
Background
LG Manoj Sinha in his monthly radio programme Awam ki Awaz had spoken about the PM's Ujjwala Yojna in his Awam ki Awaz programme on Nov 21st 2021.
Mushtaq had brought the matter into the notice of LG Sinha by writing to him a detailed letter. LG highlighted this issue in the Awam ki Awaz radio broadcast and assured Mushtaq a probe into the issue.
After a month, when Mushtaq didn't hear anything from Raj Bhavan, he filed an application under Right to Information Act (RTI) in LG's Secretariat to know about the status of his complaint which was discussed by Lt Governor during Awam ki Awaz programme .
Information Sought
On December 21st 2021, Mushtaq Ahmad Lone filed an application under RTI Act seeking details of action taken by LG's office on his complaint. The RTI application reads as :
During Awam ki Awaz programme dated Nov 21st Hon'ble LG Shri Manoj Sinha spoke about PM Ujjwala Yojna. I had sent a complaint to him on the issue as there is a lot of misappropriation of funds and corruption. I would like to seek following information in this regard:
Has your office made any formal communication with LPG companies or Govt on the issue of PM's Ujjwala Yojna which is marred by large scale corruption in J&K especially District Budgam? Kindly provide a copy of the letter that has gone from Raj Bhavan to concerned officers for investigating the issue. Has any response been received by Raj Bhavan in this case ? Please provide the certified copies of the letters received in this regard Has Raj Bhavan directed Govt or Deputy Commissioners to upload a list of PM's Ujjwala beneficiaries on the official websites ? Special Secretary intervenes
When Mushtaq didn't receive any information within stipulated time from the Public Information Officer Pankaj Bagotra (Additional Secretary ), he filed first appeal before Mr Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Special Secretary who is the designated First Appellate Authority (FAA) .
The FAA called Mushtaq for an online hearing through Zoom on February 25th 2022. The PIO was also present during the hearing.
Before the appeal hearing, the Special Secretary ensured Mushtaq was given a better audience. The Raj Bhavan officials called him several times a few days before hearing to make sure he had better internet connectivity.
The FAA (Special Secretary) told Mushtaq during the hearing that he would write a letter to the General Administration Department (GAD) and Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. The officer finally made a fresh communication with Food Department and asked the Commissioner Secretary on behalf of Lt Governor to probe into the issue. A report was sought within 3 days only.
No Probe Initiated
There are several videos on social media which prove that indigent people in J&K have been looted, especially in Budgam district. Local news channels have exposed it as well. Newspapers have been writing about it but the government is least bothered to even investigate this matter. The matter had to be taken up at the highest level (Raj Bhavan). This author has been uploading all the videos and newspaper articles about the Ujjwala scam on social media. The Deputy Commissioner of Budgam is aware of all this as his official Twitter handle was tagged by me several times about this.
However, unfortunately, he has not even asked an SHO of the area to file an FIR on the issue. Is this good governance ?
Poor people are being scammed by LPG companies and their dealers not only in J&K but at the national level as well.
In August 2019, Uttar Pradesh Police had also exposed a scam involving this scheme in the Balrampur district, and later that year the Comptroller and Auditor General of India unearthed a massive scam under this scheme as well. This needs a CBI inquiry across all states.
Earlier this year, free ration meant for the poor under the PM Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojna was looted, and it was reported by Kashmir Observer and I exposed this in my weekly programme Inkishaf as well. That matter, too, is yet to be probed by the Deputy Commissioner Budgam.
Mushtaq had filed complaints at various forums. He was assured of action but till date not even an FIR has been filed against the culprits who took money from poor people for Ujjwala LPG gas which is to be given free of cost to BPL families. The Assistant Director Food Budgam also got the matter verified after being directed by LGs grievance cell but that report was also not made public.
Conclusion
PM Ujjwala scheme is marred by large scale corruption in Jammu & Kashmir.
In Budgam district Mushtaq and his colleagues went to several villages to see whether beneficiaries have received the subsidized gas or not but on the ground they were told that people had to pay money (Rs 2000 to 4000) for it. As the matter has now been taken up by Raj Bhavan directly with administrative department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department, it is hoped that culprits will be brought to justice soon.
- Views expressed in the article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer
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