Cooch Behar, 17th March: Allegations have surfaced against an employee of Sitalkuchi BDO office in Cooch Behar demanding a bribe in the pretext of getting a grant for the government’s Rupashree Prakalpa. The scheme is an initiative of the state government that provides a one-time financial grant of Rs. 25,000 for economically stressed families at the time of their adult daughters’ marriages.
Reportedly, a woman named Manpi Barman had applied for the Rupashree grant before her marriage. But even after getting married she did not receive the financial grant, which compelled her to inquire about the same at the BDO office. It was claimed that the reason for not getting the grant was the wrong IFSC code of the bank. After this, an employee of the BDO office approached her demanding Rs 10,000 from the woman. It is alleged that the said employee claimed that Manpi would not be getting the grant if she failed to give the said amount.
After this Manpi informed the Sheetlakuchi BDO about the matter. Sitalkuchi BDO Sophia Abbas said she has not heard anything regarding it, and assured the matter will be probed.