The Punjab Nirman scheme, which was administered by the Congress during its tenure, is being scrutinized by the Chief Vigilance Office (CVO) of the Local Bodies Department. A team visited Ludhiana to check documents related to the scheme on Thursday. A complaint had been received by a resident who alleged that funds under the scheme were being distributed unfairly. The CVO officials checked how funds were distributed and what was the criteria used to select beneficiaries during elections. The opposition parties have accused the Congress leaders of flouting norms and distributing funds to their near ones instead of "actual beneficiaries." This scheme was meant to provide financial help to people for sanitation projects, provide houses to homeless people, provide provision of drinking water, toilets, waiting rooms, and other improvements in government hospitals, dispensaries, and other places. An RTI query had revealed that lists of beneficiaries were prepared by area MLAs or party's Halka Incharges.
