Odisha: 2,487 'Dead' Workers Authenticate Aadhaar, Claim Rations in Fraud Case

A draft audit report has found that medical officers in Odisha issued death certificates for construction workers who were still alive. The fraudulent documents enabled their nominees to claim over ₹15 crore in assistance under the Nirman Shramik Scheme.

Approximately 2,487 workers who were officially declared dead later authenticated their Aadhaar and availed ration, revealing the scale of the scheme abuse. The audit uncovered the systematic issuance of false certificates by medical officials to facilitate irregular financial disbursements.

The findings point to a significant breach in the implementation of the workers' welfare scheme, involving collusion between officials and beneficiaries. An investigation into the responsible medical officers is expected to follow.