Madhya Pradesh Welfare Boards Received Rs 8.34 Crore Budget But Operated Without Actual Work for Two Years

Government confirmed that Rs 8.34 crore was sanctioned in 2023 for nine welfare boards' operations.

A significant political controversy has emerged in Madhya Pradesh after Assembly documents revealed that nine social welfare boards established shortly before the 2023 assembly elections operated for two years without receiving any funding, performing meaningful work, or benefiting any community members.

Nevertheless, the appointed chairpersons enjoyed government vehicles, allowances, and ministerial-status perks throughout their tenure.

This remarkable disclosure came in response to a comprehensive question from MLA Pratap Grewal, who requested the government to explain these community-specific welfare boards' functioning, meetings, budgets, and outcomes.

According to Minister of State for Skill Development and Employment Gautam Tetwal's written response, then-Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan established these boards in October 2023, just weeks before the assembly elections. Leaders from key castes received chairman and member positions, many with ministerial rank.

The government acknowledged that a total grant of Rs 8.34 crore was sanctioned in 2023 for all nine boards' operation, but not a single rupee was released to any individual board. Consequently, no beneficiaries were identified, selected, or provided assistance under any scheme.

The minister plainly stated that "information is not available" regarding beneficiaries, eligibility criteria, or benefits—effectively confirming that no activity occurred under the boards in two years.

Regarding administrative functioning, the reply disclosed that no district-level meetings were conducted by any board during its tenure. Only a few state-level meetings took place: three for the Vishwakarma Board, one for Veer Tejaji Board, three for Jai Meenesh Board, and so on. Three boards did not hold even one meeting.

The Maharana Pratap Board never had a chairman or secretary appointed. The Telghani and Jai Meenesh Boards had no members appointed whatsoever. The Rajjak and Veer Tejaji Boards had only one member each, instead of the required four. Outsourced staff were hired 18 months after formation and then dismissed within a few months.

Most boards operated from the AVN Tower in MP Nagar, Bhopal, where the Skill Development Directorate is headquartered. Two boards functioned from privately rented buildings, despite having no operational activity. Funds for administrative use were kept in a single SBI account but remained unused, as the boards received no budget allocations.

Speaking to NDTV, MLA Pratap Grewal accused the government of "cheating communities for political gain." He alleged that the BJP created these boards solely to mislead caste groups during elections by providing symbolic power and facilities to their leaders.

He further stated that while chairpersons enjoyed cars, allowances, and official status, no schemes were launched, no beneficiaries were identified, and no youth or unemployed individuals from these communities received any assistance.

The government dissolved all boards on September 17, 2025, exactly two years after their formation.