Truth that Matters. Stories that Impact

Truth that Matters. Stories that Impact

Politics

BJP Demands High-Level Investigation Into Alleged Misappropriation in Udupi Sanjeevini SHGs

The Udupi district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has sought a high-level probe into alleged financial irregularities within the functioning of Sanjeevini women’s self-help groups in the district.

What Happened

In a formal statement, Udupi district BJP Mahila Morcha president Sandhya Ramesh stated that self-help groups were established with the intention of empowering women, but alleged swindling of funds had recently been reported in some groups. According to Ms. Ramesh, instances of misappropriation came to light in at least three SHG unions over a two-day period, leading to the registration of police complaints.

Ms. Ramesh noted that the district comprises 155 gram panchayats, with each panchayat hosting one SHG union. Between 10 and 70 individual self-help groups are affiliated with each union, supporting the livelihoods of approximately 90,000 women under the Sanjeevini initiative. The alleged misappropriation of more than Rs 80 lakh across three unions has caused concern among group members, and the BJP representative indicated there could be additional unrecorded cases.

Key Highlights

  • BJP Mahila Morcha demanded a thorough, high-level inquiry into the management of Sanjeevini self-help groups in Udupi.
  • Police complaints have been lodged following alleged fund diversion exceeding Rs 80 lakh across three SHG unions.
  • The district includes 155 gram panchayat unions, encompassing groups that provide livelihoods to around 90,000 women.
  • The leadership cited an absence of proper oversight in accounting, financial handling, and general administration.
  • The BJP unit called for severe legal action against those responsible and urged the State government to assess whether similar issues exist in other districts.

Why This Matters

The Sanjeevini scheme is a Union government-sponsored initiative executed by the State government to support female empowerment and financial independence. Because roughly 90,000 women rely on these groups for their livelihood in Udupi alone, allegations of systemic lapses in accounting and supervision directly threaten the financial security and confidence of local participants.

What to Watch Next

Following the submission of police complaints, authorities will look into the specific allegations of fund misappropriation. Attention will also turn to whether the State government initiates an administrative review or wider investigation into self-help group accounts across other districts as demanded.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scale of the alleged irregularities in Udupi?

According to district BJP Mahila Morcha president Sandhya Ramesh, more than Rs 80 lakh has allegedly been misappropriated across at least three SHG unions in the district.

How many women are affiliated with the Sanjeevini scheme in Udupi?

Around 90,000 women earn their livelihood through self-help groups under the Sanjeevini initiative in Udupi across 155 gram panchayat unions.

What specific action has the BJP demanded?

The party has called for an immediate high-level investigation, strict legal penalties for those involved in the misuse of funds, and state-wide vigilance to determine if similar mismanagement has occurred elsewhere.

Source: Based on reporting by The Hindu.