CM's Mass Marriage Scheme: 15, including Social Welfare dept officers, held in UP's Ballia
Ballia (UP), Jan 31: Fifteen people, including the officers of the Social Welfare department, were arrested here on Thursday in connection with a recent case of fraud in the Chief Minister's Mass Marriage Scheme, police said.
"Two assistant development officers -- Sunil Kumar Yadav and Bhanu Pratap of the Social Welfare department -- have been arrested along Ravindra Gupta, Alok Srivastav, Upendra Yadav, Deepak Chauhan, Mukesh Kumar Gupta, Ramji Chauhan, Santosh Yadav, Arjun Verma, Ramnath, Acchelal Verma, Dharmendra Yadav, Gulab Yadav and Sarabjeet Singh of the Social Welfare department," Ballia District Magistrate (DM) Ravindra Kumar said.
The marriage of young men and women from poor families is being done under the Chief Minister's Mass Marriage Scheme.
An FIR regarding the matter was registered against the assistant development officer of the Social Welfare department and eight beneficiaries on charges of fraud at the Maniyar police station on Tuesday night on the complaint of District Social Welfare Officer Deepak Srivastava.
Among the 15 arrested, the name of Assistant Development Officer Sunil Kumar Yadav is mentioned in the case registered and the names of 14 others have come to light during the investigation, the DM said.
"Whether those involved in corruption in the matter are officers, employees or anyone else, no one will be spared and strict action will be taken against them. Such action will be taken against those involved in corruption in the Mass Marriage Scheme that it will become an example for Ballia district," he added.
Chief Development Officer (CDO) Ojasvi Raj said that accused Assistant Development Officer Sunil Kumar Yadav has been suspended.
"Action is being taken to suspend Assistant Development Officer Bhanu Pratap and Desk Officer of Social Welfare department Ravindra Gupta," he added.
As per the police complaint, it came to the fore that brides and grooms, who were already married, were being married again in the mass marriage event.
A probe committee under the chief development officer was constituted in the matter on January 29.
It was found in the probe that some of the beneficiaries like Archana of Manikapur village was married in June 2023. Apart from this, Ranjana Yadav and Suman Chauhan got married in March 2023, Priyanka got married in November 2023, Pooja got married a year ago, Sanju got married three years ago and Ramita got married in July 2023. Apart from this, Sonam's marriage is not decided yet.
All of them are not eligible under the Chief Minister's Mass Marriage Scheme, the committee said in its report.
Ineligible applicants had applied illegally to get benefits under the scheme by hiding the actual facts, the report said.
The Social Welfare department's assistant development officer was negligent in examining the applications which led to this fraud.
District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar had said that the funds have not yet been distributed to the beneficiaries of the mass marriage programme held in Maniyar development block.
Under this scheme, a payment of Rs 51,000 is made of which Rs 35,000 goes to the girl, Rs 10,000 for purchasing matrimonial materials and Rs 6,000 for the event, according to the government website.
Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has demanded an investigation into the matter.
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EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
