The Delhi Government had allotted 560 shops/kiosks under the disabled and SC/ST category from 1985 to 1992. However, only 23 original allottees still own the kiosks while others reportedly sold the stalls that were allotted to them in main markets of the national Capital. An investigation by The Pioneer revealed that the shops/kiosks allotted to people under the quota for differently-abled people have been sold to others for a consideration, despite the fact that allotments under this scheme were non-transferable.
The investigation revealed that only 23 kiosks were in use, 112 were closed, 106 had been sold out, 84 others had been converted into parking bays or open spaces and the remaining 115 were not traceable. Delhi Government officials say it is a scam and is under investigation. A well-placed source said Delhi Government’s Social Welfare Department, the nodal agency for welfare of differently-abled people has not only failed to keep a constant watch on the implementation of its scheme but also in the recovery of the remaining payment from about 500-odd beneficiaries who were handed over the possession of these kiosks between 1985 and 1992.
The investigation also revealed that the Social Welfare Department itself had ordered an enquiry into these allotments in November 2011. As per the enquiry report submitted in April 2012, files related to guidelines on allotment and possession of kiosks were found missing. The report said that only 133 individual files for allotment of kiosks were available.
In response to public notices in February/June 2012 by the department, only 97 people turned up. Out of these 97 people, only four were original allottees and were using their kiosks. In other cases, it was found that some kiosks were being used by the relatives of the original allottees, others were being run in partnership and many had been rented out.
Records show that the department had allotted and handed over possession of 536 kiosks to differently-abled people during 1985-1992. The kiosks were procured by the department after making payments to the local bodies like the Delhi Development Authority, erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board.
According to officials, each allottee was to deposit Rs 1,000 as down payment and the balance cost of the kiosk was to be paid in quarterly installments over 15 years. The allotments were made on the condition that the non-payment of installments within three months of the transfer of the kiosk would lead to the cancellation of the allotment and delayed payment would attract 18 per cent interest. However, a report submitted by the District Social Welfare Officers (DSWO) had highlighted various irregularities. It would be pertinent to mention that even the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has sought comments from the Social Welfare Department in this regard.
“The Social Welfare Department has failed to keep a constant watch on the implementation of the scheme and recovery of the remaining payment from the allottees. The internal control in the department was abysmally ineffective in retaining important records in safe custody. In the absence of relevant records, the audit could not ascertain the genuineness of the allotments, possession and recovery of cost of the kiosks. Further, the department did not initiate any punitive action against defaulters on the basis of the investigation report of the DSWOs,” it said.