Action against child development official

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 12: After suspending two group D staffs of integrated child development scheme (ICDS) in Harischndrapur block for taking bribe in exchange of appointment letters for the post of helper in ICDS centres, the Chanchal sub divisional officer Mr Debashis Sarkar today asked the director of the ICDS to take necessary step against Mr P Tserring Lepcha, the child development project officer, who is absconding since Monday. The two group D staff Rabi Saha and Ganesh Das were suspended today. It may be recalled that police had arrested two group D staff Rabi Saha and Ganesh Das on charges of taking bribe offering appointment letter to the job seekers for the post of helper in ICDS centres. The appointment letters were reportedly signed and issued by the CDPO Mr Lepcha. “I have suggested the director of the ICDS in Kolkata, through the district magistrate, to take departmental action against the CDPO who is out of station on ‘unauthorised leave',” said Mr Sarkar. “Mr Lepcha is absconding and we have failed to contact him over his cell phone. So we requested the director to take action against him and ask him to report in Malda headquarters soon”, the Chanchal SDO said. “We will start another inquiry with the help of the cryptographer to prove that he had put his signature on the appointment letter which were sold off in exchange of money by the group D staff ," the SDO said. It may be noted that in Harishchandrapur II there was a law and order problem owing to public agitation over the issue of 72 helpers’ appointment in the ICDS centres when the CDPO had issued appointment letters three months ago. After inquiry it was revealed that 64 appointment letters, out of 72 were issued on merit and they were treated as valid but the CDPO did not follow the procedure for issuing appointment letters, the SDO said. The Chanchal SDO had placed the list of successful candidates for the post of helper before the selective committee and recommended them for fresh appointment.The 64 candidates are working at present in Harishchandrapur, the SDO said.