Congress alleges Rs 4.44 cr Prerna divas expenditure scam
PANAJI, Oct 13 : The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Tuesday accused the BJP government of misusing public funds earmarked for the welfare and development of Goa’s tribal communities by allegedly submitting highly inflated bills for the Prerana Din celebration held at Ambaulim, Quepem, on May 25, 2026.
Addressing a press conference at Congress House in Panaji, GPCC Media and Publicity Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar alleged serious financial irregularities in the expenditure incurred by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare, under Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, for organising the event.
Panjikar revealed that ₹4.40 crore was reportedly spent on a single-day celebration, alleging that the expenditure claims under various heads were grossly inflated and raised serious questions about the utilisation of public money. He demanded a comprehensive investigation into the expenditure, verification of the bills and accountability from everyone responsible for approving the payments.
*“THE EXPENDITURE FIGURES RAISE SERIOUS QUESTIONS: CONGRESS FLAGS MULTIPLE ALLEGEDLY INFLATED BILLS*
Panjikar presented a list of expenditure items that, according to Congress, were billed at rates substantially higher than prevailing market rates. The items and amounts cited by the party include:
* Production – Rs 6.50 lakh
* Stage setting – Rs 4.50 lakh
* Outdoor German pagoda – Rs18.50 lakh
* Carpet arrangements – Rs 2 lakh
* Dining and seating arrangements – Rs 6.75 lakh
* Buffet setup – Rs 80,000
* Hospitality – Rs10 lakh
* Mementos – Rs 2 lakh
* Plant saplings – Rs 2.80 lakh
* Gift hampers – Rs 75,000
* Photography and videography – Rs 2.80 lakh
* Sound system – Rs 7 lakh
* LED arrangements – Rs 4.45 lakh
* Lighting – Rs 6.50 lakh
* Generator – Rs 5.50 lakh
* Printing and branding – Rs 22.50 lakh
* Press conference arrangements – Rs 3.70 lakh
* Audio-visual production – Rs 28 lakh
* Manpower – Rs 4.25 lakh
* Stage performance – Rs 30,000
* Media promotion – Rs 24 lakh
* Transport – Rs 33 lakh
* Food and refreshments – Rs 59.75 lakh
* Housekeeping and garbage management – Rs 7.50 lakh
* Venue charges – Rs 6.50 lakh along with other Expenses.
“These figures demand answers. How can the government justify such enormous expenditure on a single-day programme, particularly when several individual items are allegedly billed far above prevailing market rates? From German pagodas and audio-visual production to media promotion, food, lighting and venue arrangements, every major expenditure head must be subjected to an independent audit,” Panjikar alleged.
He added that the government cannot expect the people of Goa to accept these figures without producing the original bills, quotations, work orders, vendor details, payment records and proof of the services actually delivered.
*“Rs 59.75 LAKH ON FOOD, Rs 33 LAKH ON TRANSPORT,Rs 28 LAKH ON AUDIO-VISUALS AND Rs 24 LAKH ON MEDIA PROMOTION: WHO APPROVED THESE FIGURES?”*
Panjikar particularly questioned the amounts reportedly charged for food and refreshments, audio-visual production, media promotion and printing and branding.
“An expenditure claim of ₹59.75 lakh for food and refreshments, ₹ 33 lakh for Transport , ₹28 lakh for audio-visual production, ₹24 lakh for media promotion and ₹22.50 lakh for printing and branding cannot simply be passed off as routine event expenditure. The government must disclose the quantities procured, the rates paid, the vendors selected and the basis on which these amounts were approved,” he said.
“Congress alleges that the expenditure reflects a pattern of inflated billing that warrants a thorough investigation. If the government is confident that every rupee was spent properly, let it publish the complete expenditure statement and supporting documents instead of remaining silent. Tribal welfare funds are public money, not a private treasury to be spent without scrutiny,” Panjikar added.
*“TRIBAL WELFARE FUNDS CANNOT BECOME A SOURCE OF ALLEGED COMMISSION-DRIVEN EXPENDITURE”*
“This is nothing but a matter of grave public concern. Money meant for the development and welfare of Goa’s tribal communities is allegedly being squandered through inflated bills in the name of organising awareness programmes and celebrations,” Panjikar alleged.
He further criticised the BJP government for what he described as its failure to adequately address the constitutional rights and developmental needs of tribal communities while spending crores of rupees on ceremonial events.
“Instead of ensuring constitutional safeguards, protecting tribal lands and delivering the benefits rightfully due to Scheduled Tribe communities, the government must explain why such enormous sums were reportedly spent on a single-day celebration. Tribal welfare cannot be reduced to grand stages, expensive hospitality and questionable bills. The government owes the tribal communities an explanation for every rupee spent from funds earmarked for their welfare,” Panjikar stated.
He questioned whether such massive expenditure could be justified when tribal communities across Goa continue to face challenges concerning their rights, land protection, welfare and development.
*CONGRESS DEMANDS INDEPENDENT AUDIT AND FIXING OF RESPONSIBILITY*
The GPCC demanded that the BJP government immediately disclose the complete expenditure statement for Prerana Din, publish the bills and supporting documents under every expenditure head, conduct an independent audit of the procurement and payments, investigate the alleged overpricing and fix responsibility wherever irregularities are established.
Panjikar called upon the tribal communities of Goa to scrutinise how funds allocated for their welfare are being utilised and demanded transparency and accountability from the government regarding the expenditure incurred on Prerana Din.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar must answer the people of Goa. Who prepared these estimates? Who selected the vendors? Who verified the bills? Who authorised the payments? Were competitive quotations obtained, and were the actual services delivered in proportion to the amounts claimed? These are straightforward questions that demand straightforward answers,” Panjikar said.
He asserted that Congress would continue to raise the issue and demand accountability to ensure that funds intended for Goa’s tribal communities are utilised transparently and for their rightful benefit.
Goa Pradesh Adivasi Congress President Ramkrishna Jalmi and Satyawan Talwadkar and ST leader Chanda Velip were also present at the press conference.
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