Rs 90 million misappropriated in social security allowances in Janaki Rural Municipality

Kathmandu, June 15:

Widespread irregularities amounting to nearly Rs 90 million have been alleged in the distribution of social security allowances in Janaki Rural Municipality-9, Kailali.

The allegations were raised by the Anti-Corruption Social Campaign, Janaki Rural Municipality, Kailali. The campaign’s coordinator, Krishn Sodari, claims that from fiscal year 2018/19to 2021/22, significant misappropriation took place under the social security program.

Sodari stated that he filed a formal complaint at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) office in Kanchanpur in July 2022, supported by documentary evidence. “I submitted all necessary documents with the complaint, yet no action has been taken, and we’ve received no updates on the investigation,” he said.

He criticized the CIAA for delays in initiating action and warned that the prolonged inaction could result in evidence being lost and the accused fleeing.

According to Sodari, Ward Chair Khakendra Bhandari and Ward Secretary Prem Budha are accused of embezzling more than Rs 89.6 million during the stated period. The campaign lodged the complaint against both officials at the CIAA branch in Kanchanpur in July 2022, but the case was transferred to the central office in Kathmandu in May 2024.

While the CIAA’s central office has acknowledged that an investigation is underway, the lack of progress has raised concerns among activists. Sodari alleged that the accused manipulated records by using the same citizenship number under different names to claim benefits multiple times, and even drew allowances in the names of deceased individuals.

The campaign has called on the CIAA to file the case in the Special Court within this fiscal year. “Since the case is not moving forward, we personally visited the CIAA central office. We have sufficient proof and have submitted everything,” Sodari said.

In a related effort, campaigners also met with then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha on August 21, 2023, presenting a report with supporting evidence. However, they claim that the Home Ministry did not respond to their concerns either.

“We found multiple instances where the same citizenship number was used to claim allowances under different names, sometimes up to four times. Even after death, individuals were registered as recipients,” Sodari added.