T’puram: Vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) has detected widespread irregularities in the functioning of various welfare fund boards, including the continued disbursal of pensions to deceased beneficiaries, suspected misappropriation of financial assistance, unaccounted funds, and irregular appointments.The findings emerged from statewide surprise inspections conducted at 78 offices of 16 welfare fund boards functioning under the labour department on Thursday as part of the VACB’s ‘Operation Welfare Fund’, launched under Project Zero. The inspections were ordered based on information about corruption, financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds in welfare boards.The inspections found that several boards had continued to disburse pensions in the names of deceased members and did not take steps to recover the amounts. In some offices, records showed that financial assistance had been disbursed to beneficiaries, but the beneficiaries had not reportedly received the money. Vigilance is investigating whether officials had misappropriated these amounts.The inspections also found instances of contributions collected from workers not being deposited in bank accounts on time, discrepancies between balances recorded in registers and actual bank balances, and failure to maintain basic records such as contribution receipt books and cash books. Some boards had appointed temporary employees without following prescribed procedures, while pensions had been sanctioned to members despite outstanding loan liabilities.In some boards, the employer’s share of contributions was not being collected properly, resulting in additional financial liabilities for the boards. VACB also found instances of pensions being sanctioned without proper orders authorising the payments.The 16 boards covered in the inspections include those for abkari workers, agricultural workers, beedi and cigar workers, construction workers, cashew workers, handloom workers, headload workers, labour welfare funds, motor transport workers, shops and commercial establishments workers, tailoring workers, toddy industry workers, bamboo and related traditional workers, small plantation workers, jewellery workers and unorganised workers.VACB director Manoj Abraham said the tendency of officials entrusted with protecting workers’ social security and financial interests to engage in irregularities and financial misuse was being viewed seriously. He said detailed follow-up investigations would be conducted into the irregularities detected and strict legal action would be initiated against those responsible.He also said stronger monitoring mechanisms and follow-up inspections would be introduced under Project Zero to ensure transparency in the functioning of welfare boards and prevent corruption. The public can report corruption-related information to vigilance through its toll-free number 1064, phone number 8592900900 or WhatsApp number 9447789100.
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