West Bengal has ordered a re-verification of all caste certificates issued since 2011 amid allegations of widespread irregularities, aiming to ensure fair access to benefits for legitimate Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Classes citizens.
The West Bengal government has decided to conduct a re-verification of all caste certificates issued in the state since 2011, amid allegations of large-scale irregularities during the tenure of the previous regime, a senior bureaucrat said on Friday.
The state Backward Classes Welfare Department on Friday issued letters to all district magistrates directing them to begin the re-verification process, he said.
Allegations of corruption and irregularities in the issuance of caste certificates had repeatedly surfaced during the previous government's tenure.
State Tribal Development and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Kshudiram Tudu said many fake and irregular Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates had been issued during that period.
"During the Trinamool Congress regime, a large number of fake and irregular SC, ST and OBC certificates were issued. Many people availed the benefits using these certificates," Tudu said.
The minister had earlier stated that strict action would be taken against officials under whose supervision such certificates were issued.