The Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Thursday (November 5, 2026) launched inspections in 16 welfare fund boards after receiving complaints about financial irregularities and corruption.
Vigilance director Manoj Abraham said in a statement that the inspections, titled ‘Operation Welfare Fund,’ were progressing in 78 offices of 16 boards functioning under the State government’s Department of Labour.
According to the VACB, the complaints that it received with regard to the functioning of the welfare fund boards were of a diverse nature.
There allegedly were instances of officials misappropriating the contribution remitted by employers to the fund. It was also alleged that bribes were taken for including ineligible individuals in the beneficiary list, and that, account details were being tampered with to continue the pension payment even after the deaths of beneficiaries.
Other complaints pertained to the payment of multiple pensions to the same individual, payment of ex gratia benefits to ineligible persons, and diversion of government assistance.
The inspections are being undertaken as part of ‘Pro-Active Vigilance’ initiative in government institutions as part of the VACB’s ‘Project Zero’ aimed at a corruption-free Keralam.
Mr. Abraham also urged the public to inform the Vigilance about corrupt activities on the toll-free number 1064 or on the mobile numbers 8592900900 and 9447789100.
Published – November 05, 2026 05:41 pm IST
