PANJIM: After Goa Lokayukta found irregularities into the financial support scheme offered to building and construction workers (BOCW) during COVID-19 pandemic, the State Labour Department has failed to submit the required information seeking additional six weeks time.
The Lokayukta Justice (retired) PK Misra, however, declining the request, has fixed hearing on August 18, while asking to produce all the information pertaining to BOCW and the financial support provided to the beneficiaries.
The complaint was filed by GFP vice president Durgadas Kamat, who had charged that an amount of over Rs 13 crore has been disbursed to 15,490 BJP workers cum ‘so called’ construction workers and labourers during the pandemic.
The Labour Commissioner initially reached late for the hearing on Wednesday, which was fixed at 12.15pm and failed to produce the information detailing the scheme and the names and designations of the officials whose duty it was to identify the beneficiaries, as directed by Lokayukta during its first hearing in June.
The Labour Commissioner in his submission has said that “there are practical hurdles and difficulties which come in the way of smooth functioning on account of the COVID-19 crisis”.
“That apart, the information dates back to eight years and all the records are required to be inspected, collected and compiled before the information can be furnished on record,” the Respondent said.
The Respondent further stated that the information from the years 2012-13 until 2019-2020 is required to be collected from various offices of the department from all over the State.
The Commissioner during the hearing held on July 2 had admitted that the financial support meant for BOCW to tide over the loss of wages caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been availed by several bogus beneficiaries and the re-verification process has started.
