Fraudulent Claims Exposed in Kanyashree Scheme, Investigation Underway

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, March 23, 2025, Malda : A significant case of fraud has emerged in the Kanyashree scheme in the state, raising concerns about the integrity of the program. Women who were married for several years and even had children falsely declared themselves as unmarried to receive financial benefits under the scheme. The discrepancy came to light following an extensive verification process led by the Block Development Officer (BDO), revealing multiple cases of fraudulent applications in the Mashaldaha Panchayat of Harishchandrapur 2 Block of Malda.

On Thursday morning, Sonam Wangdi Lama, the Joint BDO of Harishchandrapur 2 Block, visited the villages of Talgachi and Karkaria in the Mashaldaha area to verify Kanyashree applications submitted by students from Jagannathpur High Madrasa. During this door-to-door verification, a total of 16 applications were reviewed, of which 14 were found to be fraudulent. The applicants, some of whom were married for two to three years and had children, had falsely claimed to be unmarried to receive benefits under the scheme.

The Kanyashree scheme was launched by the state government to help female students continue their education by providing financial assistance. Under the scheme, unmarried girls aged 13 to 18 receive ₹1,000 annually, and if they remain unmarried after turning 18, they are eligible for a one-time grant of ₹25,000. However, the recent fraud cases highlight how some individuals have exploited the system by submitting false information about their marital status.

One of the most concerning cases involved Sukhtara Khatun, a student of Jagannathpur High Madrasa. Her aunt, Bedra Khatun, revealed that Sukhtara had been married for three years and had a two-year-old child when she applied for the Kanyashree grant. Despite her married status, Sukhtara submitted an application for the ₹25,000 one-time benefit. Two months ago, two individuals posing as block and panchayat employees visited their home, promising to help process the Kanyashree application. They demanded ₹5,000 for approval but ended up accepting ₹3,000 from the family. Bedra Khatun could not identify these individuals but confirmed that they were not known in the community.

Another case involved Sabnaz Khatun, also from Jagannathpur High Madrasa, who admitted to being married two years ago but later divorced. Despite this, she applied for the Kanyashree one-time grant. Sabnaz revealed that two individuals, claiming to be block and panchayat officials, visited her and demanded ₹3,500 for processing the grant. She paid the amount, believing it was necessary to complete the application process.

The fraud scheme extended further, with the headmaster of Jagannathpur High Madrasa, Mohammad Sahabuddin, clarifying that unmarried certificates are issued by the panchayat. The school’s responsibility is limited to uploading the documents to the Kanyashree portal. Verification of the applicants’ marital status is carried out by block and panchayat officials. Upon discovering the fraudulent claims, the school canceled between eight and ten applications for Kanyashree.

The fraud was further compounded by reports that some applicants or their relatives admitted to paying bribes to individuals who came to verify their marital status. These individuals, pretending to be block and panchayat officials, demanded payments ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 in exchange for processing applications. In some cases, these payments were made without any knowledge of the individuals’ true identities.

In response to these revelations, the BDO, Sonam Wangdi Lama, assured that strict action would be taken against those found responsible. "I verified 16 applications in Talgachi and Karkaria villages. Out of these, 14 were fraudulent," Lama said. "I have also received complaints regarding a block employee accepting bribes. We will take strict action against him."

The administration of Malda’s Harishchandrapur-II block is currently conducting a thorough investigation into these fraudulent activities. A senior district official confirmed that the block administration is verifying all Kanyashree applications in the region and investigating the involvement of any local officials. "An inquiry is underway to determine if anyone from the BDO office or the local panchayat is involved in this corruption," the official stated.

The Kanyashree scheme was designed to provide financial support to unmarried female students to help them pursue their education and prevent early marriages. The scheme provides ₹1,000 annually to girls aged 13 to 18 and a one-time grant of ₹25,000 to those who remain unmarried after 18. However, the recent fraud cases have raised concerns about the vulnerability of the system, leading to calls for stronger safeguards to ensure that only eligible applicants benefit from the scheme.

The investigation continues, and authorities have urged the public to report any suspicious activities to help protect the integrity of the Kanyashree program. The administration has vowed to take decisive action against all those responsible for the fraud, ensuring that those involved are held accountable.