The State Vigilance has ordered the Rourkela Vigilance Division for an inquiry into alleged corruption in purchase and distribution of bicycles, work tools and safety equipment worth around Rs 9 crore in the office of Joint Labour Commissioner (JLC), Rourkela.
This order came after the Odisha Lokayout had ordered the State Vigilance for an inquiry into the irregularities in distribution of bicycles, safety equipment and issue of fake labour cards under the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Board (OB&OCWWB) in the office of Joint Labour Commissioner(JLC), Rourkela.
Alleging corruption in the JLC, Rourkela, former secretary of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Rashmi Ranjan Padhi on December 5, 2019 had filed a complaint with the Lokayukta. Significantly, Padhi had obtained RTI information on the issue on July 10 and November 15 during the year 2019. As per the information, discrepancies were detected in distribution of 18,734 bicycles worth Rs 7.58 crore and 1,615 working tools and safety equipment worth around Rs 64.70 lakh among workers.
Padhi had alleged in his complaint that even as the products were of inferior quality, the vendors Vendica Ventures Pvt Ltd and Maa Padmasini Enterprises had charged high price. The Odisha Lokayukta had asked the Director of Vigilance to inquire into the matter and submit a report within three months. According to sources, the matter has been listed for further hearing on February 18, 2021. “We have already started inquiry into the case. I have written to the Joint Labour Commissioner, Rourkela, to provide certain information into the alleged corruption in labour office.” said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rourkela Vigilance division, Rourkela, BK Nayak.