BHOPAL: Six kilograms of ‘kaju’ (cashew), three kilograms of kishmish (raisins), five kilograms of ‘badam’ (nuts), more than nine kilograms of fruits, 30 kilograms of snacks—do you think this is the menu for a big fat Indian wedding? No, this was bought for a meeting attended by only a handful of officials at a nondescript panchayat in Shahdol district.This comes days after bills showing 168 labourers and 65 masons were deployed against the use of four litres of paint at a school, and 275 workers and 150 masons were deployed against 20 litres of paint at another school in the same Shahdol district went viral on social media.A village-level choupal was held at Bhadwahi village panchayat under Gopaharu Janpad of Shahdol district on May 25 under the Jal Ganga Samvardhan Mission—a drive aimed at water conservation. The choupal was attended by officials like the district collector, district panchayat CEO, SDM, and others.Bills for the food, tent, and other such things that were put up against this event by village panchayat officials have gone viral on social media.TOI is in possession of these bills. Bills of six kilograms of ‘kaju’ (cashew), three kilograms of ‘kishmish’ (raisins), five kilograms of ‘badam’ (nuts), five kilograms of sugar, six kilograms of milk, around five dozen bananas, three kilograms of ‘anaar’ (pomegranate), three kilograms of grapes, three kilograms of apples, 30 kilograms of snacks, and several other food items including ‘poori-sabji’ and tent bills worth more than Rs 85,000 have gone viral.A total of nine such bills are making rounds on social media. TOI talked to the owner of ‘Govind Gupta Kirana Store’ situated in Bharri village whose bill has been used for dry fruits and 30 kilograms of snacks. “No snacks were purchased from my store. Bills must be for other expenses,” Gupta said. When asked whether 13 kilograms of dry fruits (one kilogram of ‘kaju’ (cashew) was purchased from another firm) were purchased from his store, Gupta said, “Maybe it was purchased in two-three instalments.”District collector Shahdol, Kedar Singh, has ordered the Gopaharu janpad panchayat CEO to probe and submit a report.When TOI asked officials whether they ate this much dry fruit, the district collector, Kedar Singh, responded, “I do not eat dry fruits and I didn’t eat. I came out early. As these bills have come into my cognizance, I have ordered a probe by the janpad panchayat CEO. Appropriate action would be taken against those found guilty. It is good if locals who were also present at the event were provided food, but how come so much dry fruit be used?”Incharge district panchayat CEO, Mudrika Singh, who was also at the event, said, “It was dark. I did not see those dry fruits. We are examining the bills; there were a lot of people there. Action would be taken against those found guilty.”Gopaharu Janpad panchayat CEO, Ved Mani Mishra, has asked the panchayat convener to examine the matter. “The official went to the panchayat, but due to incessant rain, he could not go there today. He will be visiting on Friday. Action would be taken as per the findings.”
