The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested three individuals for their alleged involvement in a government welfare scheme scam linked to the Janani Suraksha Yojana and the Women’s Sterilisation Incentive Programme.
The accused have been identified as Gaurav Thapa (Block Program Manager), Neeraj Awasthi (Block Accounts Manager), and Ashok, a resident of Nagla Kadam village. A fourth suspect, Gautam Singh, who worked as a Data Entry Operator, is currently absconding.
These welfare schemes, implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM), provide financial assistance of Rs1,400 to women in rural areas and Rs1,000 to women in urban areas for childbirth, along with Rs2,000 for sterilisation procedures. Funds are directly deposited into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
However, a financial audit of the Fatehabad Community Health Centre (CHC) in Agra uncovered shocking discrepancies. One woman was allegedly shown to have given birth 25 times and undergone five sterilisations in 30 months, fraudulently receiving Rs45,000 in government incentives.
According to the police, the accused created fake beneficiary accounts using the details of women from self-help groups, linked their own phone numbers, and transferred incentive payments to their personal accounts via UPI. They later withdrew and shared the embezzled funds among themselves.
During interrogation, the arrested suspects admitted to their roles in the scam.
Following the revelations, Agra Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Arun Srivastava constituted an internal committee, headed by Additional CMO Dr. Jitendra Lavania, to cooperate with the police and ensure swift action.
“The search for the absconding data entry operator continues. Any officials found complicit will face immediate termination,” Dr. Srivastava stated.
The investigation has now expanded to all 18 Community Health Centres (CHCs) across Agra district. So far, no irregularities have been detected in five CHCs, while audits of the remaining centres are underway.
