Latest news with #RDA
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Rourkela girl dies after falling into open drain
Rourkela: A seven-year-old girl, playing inside her housing complex, fell into an open drain and drowned on Wednesday. Saran Badaik, the only daughter of Mumbai-based mason Rohit Badaik, fell into the drain around 8 pm. Her body was found stuck in the drain after a three-hour search. Saran and her family had moved into the affordable housing colony in Chhend just two weeks back from Bidyut basti. However, the joy was tragically cut short. The death triggered anger with residents of the housing colony demanding action against civic authorities and the contractor. "The negligence of the contractor and authorities claimed my daughter's life. We were forced to move here before the project's completion," a grieving family member alleged. Like the Badaiks, several families have moved to the 500-quarter complex near Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, developed under a public-private partnership for slum dwellers. On Thursday, protesters, including human rights activists, demanded a high-level inquiry and Rs 50 lakh compensation for the bereaved family. They have refused to release the body for postmortem until their demands are met. Chhend police station sub-inspector Om Prakash Routray confirmed that an unnatural death case has been registered based on an FIR. The victim's father, who rushed back from Mumbai, plans to file an additional complaint. Rourkela Development Authority (RDA) and Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) officials visited the site on Thursday. "This tragic incident falls under RDA's jurisdiction. We are reviewing the allegations and demands from family members and residents," said Ajit Patnaik, assistant commissioner, RMC. Despite repeated attempts, RDA secretary L Mahato remained unavailable for comment.
Business Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Business Times
President's Challenge 2025 to support 52 organisations, with focus on longer-term funding
[SINGAPORE] The President's Challenge 2025, which was launched on Wednesday (May 28) by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, will support 60 programmes by 52 organisations. Although this is fewer than the 88 programmes supported in 2024, the initiative aims to focus on more significant and longer-term funding for beneficiaries. The refreshed President's Challenge this year received applications from 272 programmes – more than twice the number in 2024. In a doorstop interview with the media, Tharman said: 'The happy problem we face is that we've had a lot more applications for this new President's Challenge. And we could therefore afford to be selective, choose programmes which we felt had the greatest potential, and yet cover a broad ground.' Six selected programmes that have established track records will receive a higher tier of funding of S$715,000 to S$1.25 million over five years. The other 54 programmes will receive funding of S$105,000 to S$300,000 for each programme over three years. One of the six programmes is Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore's (RDA) equine-assisted activities. Meanwhile, one of the 54 programmes is Playeum's Open Minds, Open Doors programme. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up RDA currently runs therapeutic riding sessions for persons with disabilities, as well as the Ground Programme, in which beneficiaries can get involved with activities such as horse care. Gerard Sivalingam, general manager of RDA, said: 'We use horses as a form of therapy… (The beneficiaries) see joy in what they are doing. What we offer them is a hobby and something that's not easily accessible.' He added that the funding from the President's Challenge is vital in keeping the programmes free of charge, especially amid rising costs. Meanwhile, one of the 54 programmes is Playeum's Open Minds, Open Doors initiative, which has been ongoing since 2019. It is a community play programme for children with disabilities. Charlotte Goh, executive director of Playeum, said: '(Open-ended play) enables social and emotional skills and 21st century skills like critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication, self-regulation and self-awareness.' As part of the programme, Playeum also runs workshops for parents to learn about children's holistic development and family bonding through play. It has developed manuals that can be used by both parents and educators. Tharman added: 'All the programmes we're supporting aim not just at meeting immediate needs, but uplifting people, by discovering talents and developing their potential.' In addition, the S$250 million SG Gives Matching Grant announced at Budget 2025 will provide dollar-for-dollar matching by the government for all donations to the President's Challenge. New fellowships This year's President Challenge includes new fellowships, which will cover three tracks. The first track, called Civil Action, offers one or two-year sabbaticals to those who have a minimum of five years of work or active volunteering experience. It is supported by Quantedge Foundation, Singapore Management University and Singapore University of Social Sciences. Tharman said: '(This track) is to enable people who are engaged in the social sector – in social work, social services, youth work, and even active volunteers from other professions – the time and opportunity to reflect, do some research, network and develop new ideas for social impact.' The second track, called Springboard, supports individuals who have faced challenges in life and are ready to enter the workforce or become an entrepreneur. The selected fellows can choose between employment and upskilling programmes either for employment or entrepreneurship. Springboard is supported by the Singapore Institute of Management and Temasek. It aims to help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, ex-offenders, women facing vulnerable circumstances, and more. The third track is ITE Inspire, which recognises alumni from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) who have made strides in their career and can act as role models for the younger generation. ITE Inspire is also supported by Singapore Business Federation Foundation. ITE will shortlist and select up to five awardees. These awardees will organise programmes such as mentoring, learning journeys and industry visits in Singapore and/or overseas, and workshops or fireside chats to benefit the ITE community. More opportunities in arts and sports The President's Challenge has also partnered the National Arts Council (NAC) and Sport Singapore (SportSG) to broaden opportunities for beneficiaries in the arts and sports sectors. The Enabling Sports Fund aims to expand community-initiated disability sports and support early identification of talents among young persons with disabilities. Under the partnership, the President's Challenge will also enhance access to sports for all via SportSG's academies and clubs, as well as more inter-school sports competitions and carnivals. It will also help NAC and SportSG expand their scholarship offerings.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
RDA scam suspects in the NAB crosshairs
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned two retired officials in connection with the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) financial scandal. The summons were issued for Thursday (today) following their nomination as suspects by the RDA administration. The accused include former Director Asif Mehmood Janjua and retired Assistant Director Khawaja Arshad Javed. According to the NAB notice, both individuals are required to explain why they issued instructions to the bank regarding the issuance of Certificates of Deposit (CDRs), despite allegedly lacking the authority to do so. The bureau has asked them to provide a detailed explanation for their actions, submit complete records related to the CDRs, and furnish the names and details of all recipients. The notice further warned that failure to appear or comply would result in legal action in accordance with the law. This development marks a significant step in NAB's investigation into alleged financial irregularities within the RDA. More details emerge of scam Investigations have revealed that large sums of money were transferred to various companies, vendors, and individuals through Call Deposit Receipts (CDRs). These transactions were traced with the help of bank records and a report compiled by RDA's probe committee, which has now been provided to the investigative authorities. The companies and vendors involved in these transactions include MS Addad (Rs393.17million), Car Specialist Network (Rs11 million), Pothohar Associates (Rs74.26 million), SNK & Company (Rs324.46 million), Silver Stone (Rs339.4 million), and Smart Cubed (Rs309.77 million). RDA's investigation is currently comparing these transactions with records from the relevant banks. Meanwhile, a probe committee formed by RDA's Director-General Kanza Murtaza under Director State Management Nasir Shehzad Gondal has issued a report. The committee noted significant negligence and carelessness in RDA's Finance Department and found that the bank involved failed to verify the transactions with authorities before processing them. The committee concluded that the preparation of CDRs was an overstep of authority and illegal. As a result, the committee has recommended that the case be forwarded to the ACE and other relevant agencies to recover RDA funds and further investigate the irregularities.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
RDA blames ex-officers for Rs1.94b scam
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has held a retired Director of Administration and Finance, a late Deputy Director of Finance, and a retired Assistant Director of Finance responsible for a mega financial scandal amounting to Rs1.94 billion. The authority has formally referred the matter to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for action and recovery of losses. According to an official statement issued by the RDA Director-General, Kinza Murtaza, serious irregularities have been identified in the financial records of the authority, causing substantial loss to the public exchequer. The individuals allegedly involved include the retired Director of Admin and Finance, the late former DD of Finance, and the retired AD of Finance. The DG emphasised that recovering the financial losses resulting from this corruption is imperative. She noted that legal recovery of the amounts due is possible within the framework of the law, including through attachment and confiscation of properties and assets. Citing relevant legal provisions, she referenced section C-33 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 for recovery of embezzled funds, sections 12 and 15 of the NAB Ordinance for freezing and confiscating assets, section 50 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) for recovery of civil liabilities from the estate of a deceased person, and Order XXII Rule 4 of the CPC to initiate legal proceedings against legal heirs after the death of an accused. Murtaza has formally written to the NAB Rawalpindi, FIA, and ACE Rawalpindi, urging swift recovery of the embezzled amount. Talking to The Express Tribune, sources revealed that senior officials, who served as DGs or Directors of Admin and Finance in the RDA over the past nine years, and who held signatory authority over financial matters, might also face action from NAB, FIA, and the ACE for failing to ensure transparency. Meanwhile, the official residence of the late DD Finance was sealed in Civil Lines in the nine-year-old mega corruption scandal in the Authority. Despite 236 suspicious transactions involving the RDA's National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) account, transfers were made to eight companies and 12 individuals and the RDA's financial discipline remained silent, the sources added. It is still to be determined which officials received vehicles in exchange for an Rs110m payment made to a car showroom. Separate payments of Rs175.7 million, Rs339.44m, Rs161.412m, Rs264.45m, Rs393.16m, and Rs74,25m were paid to several companies and individuals. Meanwhile, a probe committee appointed by the RDA DG says it is not currently in a position to identify the primary culprit behind the fraud.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
RDA scam sparks NAB probe
An alleged embezzlement scandal involving Rs1.94 billion in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has raised serious questions about negligence and misconduct by top officials over the past nine years. According to sources, the scandal reportedly implicates former and current director generals and directors of administration and finance, all of whom had signatory authority over the RDA's financial affairs. The matter has now been transferred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) via the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment for further investigation. According to sources, over the last nine years, payments amounting to nearly Rs1.94 billion were made from RDA's bank accounts to fictitious companies posing as registered vendors. These transactions were conducted through Call Deposit Receipts (CDRs), with around 21 transactions linked to eight companies and thirteen individuals. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for financial dealings within the RDA were reportedly ignored, and the signatory authority granted to the director general and director admin & finance was misused. Meanwhile, the responsible authorities failed to monitor bank account activity or audit financial records held both in RDA offices and in the respective banks. Following the revelation, NAB has started collecting relevant documents from the RDA and corresponding banks. Letters have also been sent to the private banks involved, requesting transactional records. This has created a troubling situation for all individuals who held the roles of director general or director admin & finance during the past nine yearswhether in service or retired. Questions are being raised as to why they failed to oversee the issuance of CDRs, track their reference letters, and review how funds were funnelled to various companies and individuals. According to sources, investigations aim to identify the public officials, fake companies, and individuals involved in the scam, with the ultimate goal of recovering the embezzled public funds. Legal action is expected against those who received payments either as company representatives or in a personal capacity. On the other hand, the RDA has prepared a proposed Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the fiscal year 2025-26. The plan, which awaits final approval from the Punjab government, includes major infrastructure initiatives under the "Urban Development Package" and "City Development Package." The proposed projects consist of three underpasses, one flyover, a multi-storey parking plaza, and several road infrastructure schemes. Each development initiative has been recommended by the respective members of the national and provincial assemblies.
