Bolangir: In yet another case of irregularities in MGNREGS projects in Bolangir district, fake job cards were found in the name of differently abled children and government employees.

In an exclusive report, OTV has unearthed that payments have been made to the tune of thousands against fake job card holders. The card holders include government employees, school children, differently abled children and Anganwadi workers.

OTV has found name of an Asha worker Purnima Pandey of Mahulapati village under Turekela block in the district and her differently abled son Pradeep and daughter Reena, who are studying in Bhubaneswar, registered in Muster roll as labourers.

Similarly, an Anganwadi worker Bela Bag’s name is also there in the Muster roll as a labourer.

In information sought through Right to Information application, it was found that all these names are fake and money worth thousands were withdrawn by adding fake names in the Muster roll as labourers.

In 2016-2017, Rs 40 lakh was sanctioned for upgradation of land of 27 farmers but many such fake names were added into the Mustur roll for the project.

“We are looking into the allegations. A probe into the issue has been ordered,” said Maheswar Swain, PD, DRDA Bolangir.

Earlier, OTV had broadcast on irregularities in MGNREGS government funds worth lakhs in Bolangir district following which Panchayati Raj Minister Pradip Maharathy ordered a probe and added that he would visit at least two to three districts every month and inspect ground zero progress of various developmental projects at block level.