Government Funeral Aid Claimed for People Still Alive
A deeply troubling fraud has surfaced in Motihari's East Champaran district of Bihar. In Darmaha Panchayat under Kalyanpur block, panchayat workers and officials allegedly colluded to siphon government money from the Kabir Antayeshti Yojana, a welfare scheme that provides financial support for the funeral expenses of families living below the poverty line. The most alarming aspect of the scam is that payments were processed in the names of people who are still alive, creating fictitious deaths on official records to pocket government funds.
The Scheme That Was Exploited
The Kabir Antayeshti Yojana is designed to ensure that BPL families do not struggle to afford a dignified funeral for their deceased members. The government provides this financial assistance specifically for shroud and cremation costs. In Darmaha Panchayat, however, this safety net for the most vulnerable was turned into a source of private gain.
How the Fraud Was Carried Out
The investigation revealed a two-pronged fraud. First, the names of living individuals were used in official documentation to claim funeral assistance funds. Second, people falling under the APL (Above Poverty Line) category, who are not eligible for this scheme, were granted benefits that are meant exclusively for BPL families. Genuine beneficiaries who actually needed support were left out entirely. Investigators allege that the mukhiya and panchayat-level staff worked hand in glove to ensure that approximately Rs 4,50,000 in government money was irregularly withdrawn.
MLA's Complaint Triggers Inquiry, Report Confirms Embezzlement
The matter had reportedly been raised at successive 20-point committee meetings without resolution. Local MLA Shalini Mishra eventually escalated the issue, formally demanding an investigation from the District Magistrate. Acting on the DM's instructions, DRDA Director Kundan Kumar ordered a departmental inquiry. The resulting report confirmed embezzlement of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh. Kundan Kumar himself acknowledged that funds under the scheme had been withdrawn through irregular means. He stated that the investigation report has been handed over to the District Magistrate, and further action will now be taken at the administrative level.
East Champaran's Lengthening Record of Corruption
This latest case is part of a pattern. East Champaran has seen multiple welfare and infrastructure irregularities come to light in recent times. The scandal over culvert construction carried out without building the connecting road in Kesaria and Patahi had barely faded from public attention when this new embezzlement case emerged. Observers are now asking whether a thorough audit of other panchayats across the district would reveal that the total funds misappropriated are not in the lakhs but in the crores.
