Cachar Orunodoi Row: Assam MLA Claims Syndicate Deleted Hindu Beneficiary Names

Silchar: The Cachar district in Assam has again found itself at the centre of controversy, with explosive allegations emerging over the digitalisation process of the Orunodoi 3.0 scheme. 

Despite Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s directive to include 2,000 new beneficiaries in every Assembly constituency, the ground reality in those districts appears to show a very grim picture.

Reports suggest that a large number of genuine women beneficiaries in Cachar have been excluded from the Orunodoi beneficiary list. Raising the issue, North Karimganj MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha claimed that although around 1,400 names were successfully uploaded, a “mysterious deletion” occurred after 1 PM, with 184 names being removed from the system without explanation.

The North Karimganj MLA has alleged a major conspiracy, asserting that two individuals, identified as Zakir and Barbhuiya, have formed a syndicate that has been manipulating beneficiary lists by removing eligible names and adding others in their place. According to him, the same group has been involved in similar irregularities in earlier digital systems, including Orunodoi 2.0 and ration card processes, allegedly collecting between ₹20,000 and ₹50,000 in the name of facilitating applications.

MLA Purkayastha, in his most serious allegation, claimed that the syndicate had removed names of Hindu women from the Orunodoi list and replaced them with names of Muslim women, raising concerns of deliberate demographic manipulation. He also suspected that similar malpractices could be occurring in other parts of the Barak Valley.

The MLA met the Cachar Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday and submitted a formal memorandum demanding a thorough investigation and strict action against those involved. Expressing concern over the scale of the alleged scam, he urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to intervene immediately and restore transparency in the welfare scheme.

Purkayastha further emphasised that only swift and strong administrative action can safeguard the integrity of Orunodoi, a flagship scheme aimed at empowering economically vulnerable women.

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