India, Sept. 18 -- A draft audit report has flagged a major discrepancy in Odisha's construction workers' welfare system, finding that 2,487 workers who were recorded as dead under the state's Nirman Shramik Kalyan Yojana continued to receive subsidised foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and State Food Security Scheme (SFSS).

The audit found that death benefits had been paid to nominees of the workers even though the same beneficiaries subsequently authenticated their Aadhaar details to collect ration. In 753 cases, the audit identified multiple Aadhaar authentications after the workers had been officially recorded as dead.

According to the audit findings reported on the draft report, nominees in 753 cases received a...