VACB detects widespread irregularities and corruption in Skill scheme implementation during Operation Skill Guard

T'puram: Vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) detected widespread irregularities and corruption in the implementation of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) in state during a statewide surprise inspection conducted under ‘Operation Skill Guard'. The operation was launched following information received by vigilance director alleging large-scale malpractice by project implementing agencies in collusion with officials. The surprise inspections were carried out on Feb 16 from 10.30am onwards at 62 locations, including 47 selected project implementing agencies, state implementation office of DDU-GKY in Thiruvananthapuram and 14 district implementation offices.
VACB found that several implementing agencies allegedly siphoned off funds by showing fake admissions of trainees without providing proper training. Agencies were found to have submitted forged salary certificates and bank statements to falsely claim that trainees secured employment after completion of training. Information gathered by VACB suggests that officials who were responsible for verification and monitoring, allegedly colluded with the agencies and failed to detect or act against the irregularities. It was also found that agencies that did not meet prescribed norms were allegedly selected after payment of bribes, and projects were sanctioned without verifying whether adequate infrastructure facilities existed at training centres. In some cases, implementing agencies allegedly showed their own employees as trainees and misappropriated project funds. In certain centres, trainees did not regularly attend training sessions. Instances were detected where trainees reportedly punched in after training hours and immediately punched out. Vigilance found that some institutions without adequate experience were selected as implementing agencies. It was also found that full payments were released to agencies without ensuring that trainees secured jobs. Several agencies were found to have paid salaries to staff unrelated to the project using scheme funds. In certain cases, post-placement allowances meant to be disbursed to trainees were not paid. In other cases, agencies allegedly misappropriated post-placement allowances using fabricated documents. Verification through phone calls to trainees revealed that many did not receive allowances due to them. At the state implementation office, VACB detected that an official received Rs 25,000 via UPI from the director of a project implementing agency. In Palakkad, Vigilance found that fake salary slips of various establishments were used in the names of trainees who did not secure placements. Bank accounts were opened in the names of trainees by the implementing agency, and post-placement allowance amounts were withdrawn using these accounts. Offer letters of persons employed in other institutions, who did not undergo training under the scheme, were allegedly used to claim post-placement allowances in the names of genuine trainees. In another agency in Palakkad, VACB detected that amounts were deposited into trainees' bank accounts in the name of salary from placement institutions and subsequently transferred back to the agency's account. In certain cases, bank accounts were opened for trainees in a branch located near the agency; money was deposited as salary, and withdrawn the next day from the same branch's ATM. In Malappuram, two implementing agencies were found to have received project funds by submitting fake bank statements and forged placement certificates. In Kasaragod, an implementing agency was found to have obtained a project closure certificate by submitting fabricated placement documents without providing actual placements to trainees. Vigilance director Manoj Abraham said the irregularities and corruption in the implementation of DDU-GKY are being examined seriously and that further investigations will continue in the coming days.