Kolkata, 04 June (H.S.) : The West Bengal government has decided to launch a statewide special audit of gram panchayats amid rising allegations of corruption in rural local bodies. The rural development department has also ordered the immediate transfer of employees who have been posted in the same position for more than three years.

Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh said on Thursday that the first phase of the special audit will cover around 10 per cent of the state’s 3,339 gram panchayats. He added that priority will be given to areas from where the highest number of corruption-related complaints have been received.

According to departmental sources, the audit process will be conducted in a phased manner, and further action will be determined based on its findings.

A senior official said the special audit is aimed at examining financial management, administrative functioning, and the implementation of development schemes at the grassroots level. Panchayats facing allegations of fund misuse, irregular expenditure, lapses in welfare scheme execution, or complaints regarding relief distribution will be placed under priority scrutiny.

In recent weeks, several incidents involving alleged misappropriation and hoarding of relief materials have been reported from different districts of the state, leading to the arrest of multiple Trinamool Congress leaders. Cases have been reported from Baduria in North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Mathurapur in South 24 Parganas, Asansol, and Kalna in East Burdwan, highlighting concerns over irregularities in the distribution of government relief at the grassroots level.

In addition to the audit exercise, the state government has also decided to initiate immediate transfers of Panchayat and Rural Development department employees who have been stationed at the same posting for over three years. The government said the move is aimed at enhancing administrative transparency and ensuring stricter checks on corruption in local governance.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh