Raipur
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has taken a stern view of the alleged swindling of over 40,000 tribal women under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in Chhattisgarh. The commission has issued a notice to the state Chief Secretary, directing a personal appearance in New Delhi on 17 March.
The action follows a complaint by senior BJP leader and former Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar. Kanwar alleged that thousands of women, particularly in Korba and surrounding regions, were duped into investing in a firm named Floramax under the guise of the central government’s flagship livelihood scheme. The scam reportedly involves several billion rupees.
Allegations of official complicity
Kanwar claimed the fraud is a conspiracy to derail the Prime Minister’s welfare initiatives. The former minister specifically named the then Collector of Korba in his complaint, accusing the official of providing misleading and false information to the state government and the commission to shield culprits.
The NCST had previously directed the state government on 16 October 2025 to take strict action in the matter. However, the commission noted that the state failed to provide any update on justice for the victims or proceedings against the accused even after 30 days.
Demand for CBI probe
Taking suo motu cognisance of the delay, the commission ordered the Chief Secretary to explain the lack of progress. Kanwar has now demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to uncover potential interstate or international links to the financial crime. He has also sought immediate punitive measures against the officials involved in the alleged cover-up.
