Chennai, Jan 6 (NationPress) The BJP in Tamil Nadu has raised serious concerns regarding significant financial and administrative discrepancies in the execution of the World Bank-backed RIGHTS initiative, which is a key program aimed at supporting individuals with disabilities within the state.

Party spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad asserted that it is possible that over Rs 100 crore has been misappropriated due to inflated administrative costs and alleged manipulation of muster rolls, calling for a thorough judicial investigation.

The RIGHTS project, which has a budget of Rs 1,702 crore, aims to assist more than 18 lakh persons with disabilities (PwDs) by enhancing accessibility, providing assistive devices, vocational training, self-employment assistance, and rehabilitation services.

However, the BJP representative contended that the goals of the project have been compromised by inefficiencies and suspected financial mismanagement.

Prasad noted that the project currently employs 5,432 workers across 388 unions, incurring an annual salary expenditure of Rs 107.52 crore. He questioned the need for such a vast administrative framework and pointed out that the delay in completing the PwD census, which has now exceeded a year, has created opportunities for irregularities.

“If the state can effectively enumerate over six crore voters, the prolonged delay in the disability census raises significant issues,” he remarked.

Moreover, Prasad accused the authorities of manipulating muster rolls to create ghost worker entries, thereby artificially inflating administrative costs and redirecting funds meant for direct welfare initiatives for PwDs. If substantiated, he claimed, these actions would violate constitutional provisions that ensure equality, dignity, and social security, as well as contravene the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and India’s commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

While acknowledging that the state government has earmarked Rs 1,433 crore for disability welfare in the current budget, including Rs 125 crore for assistive devices and the establishment of integrated service centers, Prasad cautioned that these allocations could lose effectiveness if administrative excesses are not addressed.

The BJP spokesperson urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to initiate an inquiry led by a retired High Court judge to investigate the alleged diversion of funds, staffing irregularities, and muster roll fraud.

He also called for a comprehensive public disclosure of spending and the issuance of a white paper detailing the implementation, outcomes, and shortcomings of the RIGHTS initiative. “Individuals with disabilities deserve empowerment and transparency, not neglect or exploitation,” Prasad warned, indicating that failure to tackle these issues could lead to increased scrutiny from national and international observers of the state’s governance.