Haridwar Labour Department Launches Probe Into Alleged Rs 2 Lakh Compensation Scam
The labour department in Haridwar took decisive action on Thursday. Officials ordered a formal inquiry into serious allegations of fraud at the Uttarakhand Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board. The probe focuses on a disturbing scheme where middlemen are accused of manipulating the system.
Forged Documents Used to Declare Living Workers as Dead
Investigators suspect that intermediaries used fake and forged documents in a calculated scam. These documents falsely reported registered construction workers as deceased. This fraudulent declaration allowed the middlemen to illegally claim government compensation funds. The compensation is meant exclusively for the families of workers who actually pass away.
Officials provided context on the scale of the welfare board. They confirmed that approximately 31,000 workers are currently registered with the board in the Haridwar district alone. This large registry became a target for the alleged fraudsters.
How the Welfare Scheme Was Allegedly Exploited
The government runs a specific welfare scheme for these registered workers. Under this scheme, the state provides a significant financial safety net. If a registered worker dies, their legal dependents are entitled to receive compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the government.
This Rs 2 lakh benefit is now at the heart of the scandal. Authorities believe this compensation was misused in not just one, but multiple cases. The inquiry was officially prompted after details of six similar fraudulent cases came to light. These cases all followed the same suspicious pattern.
It is important to note that no formal police complaints have been filed by victims so far. The labour department is acting on the allegations and emerging information to get to the truth.
A Victim's Story: Seema's Harrowing Experience
The human cost of this scam becomes clear through individual accounts. Seema, a resident of Bishanpur village, shared her distressing experience. She alleged that a middleman named Intzar approached her. He offered to help her family access various government benefits in return for a service fee.
"He collected our Aadhaar cards and other important documents, saying he would assist us," Seema stated. "We had no idea why a sum of Rs 2 lakh was suddenly credited into our bank account. We were confused. Later, this man came back and took Rs 1.5 lakh away from us."
Her story suggests a classic modus operandi. The middleman allegedly used her family's documents to fraudulently claim the death benefit. He then took the majority of the money, leaving the family with only a small portion.
Official Response and Scope of the Investigation
Deputy Labour Commissioner Vipin Kumar addressed the media about the department's response. "Although our office has not received a formal written complaint yet, we are taking the allegations very seriously," Kumar said.
He confirmed the immediate administrative action. "An inquiry committee has been constituted specifically to investigate these allegations," he announced.
The official outlined the broad scope of the investigation. The committee will not just look at the few known cases. Every single case where financial assistance was granted following a worker's reported death will come under scrutiny. This comprehensive review aims to uncover the full extent of the fraud.
Kumar issued a stern warning to those involved. "The department is committed to a thorough probe. We will take the sternest possible action against any individual or group found involved in this scam," he asserted. The message is clear: accountability and justice for the exploited workers and their families is the priority.
