Anantnag: Taking undue advantage of the beneficiaries of various government sponsored schemes, the officials in Block development Office (BDO) Verinag here have allegedly charged Rs 1000 to almost 225 beneficiaries who were scheduled to get cheques during the Awareness camp.

An awareness camp was scheduled to be held in Kapran area of Shahabad, being organized   by BDO Verinag in which MLA Syed Farooq Ahmad Indrabi was scheduled to attend as Chief Guest.

However, the awareness camp was postponed due to the intermittent rains.

“The VLW along with other officials in BDO Verinag charged Rs 1000 from each beneficiary for the arrangements of the programme,” beneficiaries alleged.

A number of 225 beneficiaries were scheduled to receive cheques from MLA Dooru Shahabad during the programme, officials said, adding that a total amount of 29.30 lacs will be distributed among the beneficiaries in the event.

An audio conversation of VLA and a beneficiary in possession of ‘Kashmir Vision’ reveals that the beneficiaries have been charged Rs 1000 each to get the cheques in the camp.

VLA Javaid Ahmad in the audio conversation says that “all the beneficiaries who have submitted the fees will get the cheques tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, BDO Verinag, Bilal Ahmad blamed people for approaching media persons in this regard, saying that they should have visited his office rather than approaching the media persons over the issue.

Guest