Items filtered by date: Wednesday, 05 August 2026

The Directorate of Welfare of OBC and SC, Government of Manipur, reportedly disbursed more than ₹7.78 crore under the Economic Development Programme (EDP) scheme between the financial years 2017–18 and 2020–21. However, information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act has raised serious concerns after the department stated that key records related to the scheme could not be traced.

According to documents obtained through the RTI process, an applicant sought detailed information on the implementation of the EDP Scheme in December last year. After receiving no satisfactory response, the applicant filed a first appeal. Subsequently, in February this year, the State Public Information Officer (SPIO), who is also the Director of Welfare of OBC and SC, furnished a reply.

In its response, the department confirmed that ₹7.78 crore had been disbursed under the EDP Scheme during the period from 2017–18 and 2020–21. It further stated that the names of beneficiaries were available on the Directorate’s official website.

However, the department also disclosed that several crucial records were not available. These included beneficiaries’ application forms and supporting documents, Annual Progress Reports (APRs), Utilisation Certificates (UCs), inspection reports, records detailing the utilisation of funds, and information relating to the firms or agencies involved in implementing the scheme.

Unsatisfied with the incomplete response, the applicant filed a second appeal before the Manipur Information Commission. The Commission subsequently issued summons to both the SPIO and the First Appellate Authority.

Following the hearing, the Director of Welfare of OBC and SC submitted another reply in May this year, stating that the EDP Scheme involved multiple departments and that the relevant files and records could not be traced despite efforts to locate them.

The disclosure has raised serious questions about the implementation and monitoring of the scheme. In the absence of essential official records, it is difficult to independently verify the identities of the beneficiaries, determine whether the funds reached eligible recipients, or assess how the public money was utilised under the Economic Development Programme.

The missing records have also sparked concerns over transparency, accountability, and record management in the implementation of government welfare schemes.