RAIPUR, Jul 29 (TOI): Believe it or not, many centenarian women aged 100, 200 and even 500 years are sewing and riding bicycles in Chhattisgarh.
Bizarre as it sounds, a look at the information provided by Chhattisgarh Labour Department under RTI about the beneficiaries of Mukhyamantri Silai (sewing) Machine and Cycle Sahayata Yojanas will confirm the facts. Recipients include women aged over 100 and 200 years, the 'eldest' being 532 years. Incidentally, all such entries do not have any addresses mentioned against them.
Call it faux pas or a scam waiting to be unearthed, the list furnished by the department does warrant an inquiry, as it shows widespread discrepancies, raising doubts about the real beneficiaries of the schemes that cost the state over Rs 40 crore.
The two schemes for distribution of free sewing machines and cycles were launched on the eve of assembly polls last year to help women labourers working in the unorganized sector. About 1.15 lakh women across the state reportedly benefited from the scheme.
While the cycle scheme was aimed to benefit women in the age group of 18-35, free sewing machines were for women in the age group of 35 to 60. However, the data shows that the age group criteria weren't followed at all.
As per RTI information obtained by activist Sanjeev Aggarwal, about 19,399 sewing machines were distributed to women in unorganised sector under Chief Minister Silai Sahayta Yojana in Raipur. The list of beneficiaries includes 6,189 women who were shown aged 114 years. Besides these, the list has six women showing age 202 years, three showing aged 212 years, two showing aged 282 years. There were at least 14 women shown above 300 years, seven in their 400s. Age of one woman was mentioned as 532 years.
Taking to TOI, Aggarwal said this misinformation could be just a tip of the iceberg, as the data obtained by him pertained only to Raipur. "If the information provided is correct, then beneficiaries' list has been fudged," he said.
When contacted, deputy labour commissioner Savita Mishra said this mistake could have happened because of a software malfunction. However, she expressed surprise as to how incorrect information could be given under RTI. "I am writing to the concerned officers for conducting an inquiry to ascertain the facts," she said adding that whosoever is found guilty would not be spared.
As per RTI information obtained by activist Sanjeev Aggarwal, about 19,399 sewing machines were distributed to women in unorganised sector under Chief Minister Silai Sahayta Yojana in Raipur.
The list of beneficiaries includes 6,189 women who were shown aged 114 years. Besides these, the list has six women showing age 202 years, three showing aged 212 years, two showing aged 282 years.
There were at least 14 women shown above 300 years, seven in their 400s.
Age of one woman was mentioned as 532 years.Taking to TOI, Aggarwal said this misinformation could be just a tip of the iceberg, as the data obtained by him pertained only to Raipur. "If the information provided is correct, then beneficiaries' list has been fudged," he said.
When contacted, deputy labour commissioner Savita Mishra said this mistake could have happened because of a software malfunction. However, she expressed surprise as to how incorrect information could be given under RTI.
"I am writing to the concerned officers for conducting an inquiry to ascertain the facts," she said adding that whosoever is found guilty would not be spared.