Figure of 14 lakh ghost beneficiaries in anganwadis exaggerated: Pramila Rani Brahma

Guwahati (Assam), Aug 24, 2018:

Assam’s Social Welfare Minister Pramila Rani Brahma said the figure of 14 lakh ‘fake children’ in the beneficiary list of anganwadis in the state was exaggerated.

Talking to InsideNE, Brahma said the figure was given to the Central government by former director of the Social Welfare Department, Meenakshi Sundaram, as a “challenge” as he was then being transferred out from the department.

“The figure is way above the truth. He gave the figure in a report without consulting any of us in the department including me. I wonder where he got this number. If needed, we will take action against him,” Brahma warned.

Assam has 62,000 anganwadi centres.

Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Thursday said a recent state-level inquiry had revealed the presence of 14 lakh ‘fake children’ in Assam’s beneficiary list of anganwadis.

The Minister also said the Centre had asked all the states to remove the names of non-existing beneficiaries from the list of country’s total 10 crore beneficiaries