Government documents found stacked at Bengal panchayat office, TMC chief faces questions over delayed distribution

New Delhi: A large number of government documents, including SC-ST certificates, digital ration cards, voter identity cards and job cards, were reportedly found stored at a panchayat office in Bardhaman’s Kalna II block, triggering allegations of administrative negligence and irregularities.

The documents were discovered at the Boro Dhamas village panchayat office after some residents were checking the list of beneficiaries under the Awas Yojana. The discovery sparked tension in the area, following which police reached the spot and sealed the room where the documents were kept.

Panchayat’s explanation

Panchayat officials said many of the recovered cards contained spelling errors in beneficiaries’ names, while some were duplicates and therefore could not be distributed.

However, several residents were not satisfied with the explanation. They alleged that many people in the area had been deprived of government services for 15 years or more.

Residents also expressed concern that some of the government cards they had been waiting for could be among the documents recovered from the panchayat office. They alleged that prolonged irregularities and corruption at the panchayat had prevented government documents from reaching eligible beneficiaries and demanded a detailed investigation.

TMC panchayat chief’s response

Under pressure over the issue, Trinamool Congress panchayat chief Munmun Bag said she did not have complete control over the decisions taken by the panchayat.

Bag described herself as an ordinary homemaker who was asked to contest the election and subsequently became the panchayat chief. She claimed that many of the decisions and activities of the panchayat were carried out according to the directions of Pranab Roy, the former TMC president of the Kalna II block.

The incident has triggered fresh questions over the functioning of the local administration and the handling of essential government documents.