Vijayawada: The Union labour ministry has directed its top officials to keep track on the misuse and diversion of funds meant for the welfare of labour in AP and three other northern states.
In a recent meeting held at New Delhi, the ministry’s senior officials expressed anger over mishandling of funds in these four states.
A report published in DC over funds scam in AP’s labour department became a point of discussion and the top officials decided to seek legal and technical assistance of a reputed Law university, to unearth facts and modus operandi adopted by the culprits in diverting the funds.
Confirming the same on condition of anonymity, a senior officer from Union labour ministry said that the ministry was serious over the misuse and diversion of funds, exclusively meant for labour welfare.
“A roadmap has to be prepared in consultation with the Law University professionals,” he said and added that the ministry was serious over the issue.
In fact, the law university will adjudicate the inflow and outflow of funds and will submit a detailed report to the Union ministry of labour.
The AP Labour department has landed in a serious controversy recently, following the misuse of funds of AP Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, on a large scale, since the formation of the new state. Around '30 crore was spent under the publicity head, which is almost one fourth of the funds spent for construction workers welfare. The funds were reportedly released to two advertisement houses, and not routed through the I&PR department.
It is also learnt that there were no proper sanction orders given related to the expenditure incurred from the welfare board funds, for the other activities which are not stipulated in section 24 of BOC Act.
Similarly, the unusual expenditure related to the May Day events in the last two years in AP has also drawn the attention of the top officials.
Another senior officer of the ministry said that the proposed roadmap to be prepared by the Law university will also suggest as to how to curtail the misappropriations in the department.
