The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India’s latest audit report stated that due to absence of policy for Jammu migrants and providing relief to ineligible families various eligible beneficiaries have been deprived off assistance under various schemes.
As per data of CAG, Jammu and Kashmir government did not prepare any policy or updated database on account of births, deaths, separation, rehabilitation for return of migrant families of Jammu and discontinuation of cash assistance and free ration after acquiring any government job by the beneficiaries.
“Thus, in the absence of a database, it could not be ensured that only eligible beneficiaries have been paid assistance under the Schemes.” reads the CAG report.
Since August 2020, database has not been updated of Jammu migrants for indicating the details of occupation, number of family members, original place of residence, present address etc by the department which in return could result in release of cash assistance and supply of free ration to ineligible persons/ families. The Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrant), Jammu stated in August 2020 that the General Administration Department, GoJ&K constituted in January 2020 a Committee which recommended in July 2020 inclusion and bifurcation of Jammu migrant families.
Notably, the CAG report has also stated that there were several payments of enhanced cash assistance to ineligible migrant families. As per the audit, an excess disbursement of cash assistance of Rs 67.14 lakh to 84 migrant families and inadmissible payment of arrears of Rs 75.53 lakh was made to 49 migrant families for the period prior to their registration as migrants.