By Our Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, January 17, 2015

Coming under the firing line of the opposition Congress and BJP for deliberate delay in return of the money to the duped chit fund investors, the Odisha government on Saturday said it would start preparation of the data base of the depued investors in the chit fund schemes within one week.

“Digitisation of affidavits filed by victims of the chit fund scam in Odisha with the Justice R.K. Patra Commission of Inquiry will begin within a week and it will be completed within four to five months,” the state government announced.

The announcement came after a seven-member team of the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), led by the special secretary, IT and executive director of OCAC R.N. Palai had a discussion in this regard with the secretary of the Commission at its office.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Palai said that given the massive number of affidavits received by the Commission, the digitisation could take between three to five months.

“We have selected two companies through tender. While the Bhubaneswar-based Printlink Computer and Communication Ltd has been chosen for supply of equipment required for data entry, the Maharashtra-based Stock Holding Corporation of India Project Ltd (SHCIPL) would provide the necessary infrastructure and take up the data entry work that would begin at 30 work stations in the first phase. However, the number of work stations would be raised up to 50 if the state government desires,” Palai said.

Apart from this, the Printlink Computer and Communication Ltd would take up the digitisation work after scanning all the affidavits.

“We will do the work in two shifts and be able to know the pace of work in a week after the work begins. Taking into consideration the average number of five pages of affidavits of each depositor, a target has been set to complete the digitisation of nearly 45 lakhs pages in 3-5 months,” Palai added.

The Commission on January 14 had dismissed the state government’s claim that it is doing everything possible to ensure return of money to the duped investors making it clear that digitisation of the affidavits had not even begun.

Besides, the opposition BJP and Congress and raised questions about the seriousness of the state government’s concern to address the grievances of the affected depositors.

It is worthwhile here to mention that the West Bengal government has been able to return over Rs 350 crore to the people, who had deposited Rs 500-Rs 25,000 in the chit fund companies,within 14 months from April 24, 2013 up to June 5, 2014. In sharp contrast, the Odisha government is yet to begin the process since the announcement of constitution of Justice RK Patra Commission of Inquiry on July 9, 2013 to hear the complaints of the depositors and take necessary steps for return of their money.