Jeypore: Housing scheme beneficiaries in rural and tribal pockets are suffering at the hands of middlemen and contractors due to apathy of officials who collude with such men. Middlemen seize the passbook and ATM cards of the beneficiaries and withdraw the amount deposited by the government towards house construction work but leave the works incomplete.
According to sources, these men take contract for constructing houses for the PMAY beneficiaries. At the very outset, the contractors collect their passbooks and ATM cards. When the money comes, they withdraw the amounts but leave the houses incomplete.
Notable is the plight of four beneficiaries in Mukhikhudupi village of Dangarachinchat panchayat under this block in Koraput district, under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in 2017. Their houses are yet to be completed while their bank passbooks and ATM cards are with a middleman who has taken all their money.
The four – Madhu Duru, Bhakta Gaud, Sonu Umaria and Harihara Das – were lured by Deepak Majhi, a village contractor who promised to construct their houses. Deepak allegedly withdrew the money deposited in their passbooks amounting to Rs 4lakh towards house construction. He is dragging his feet in execution of the works.
The four beneficiaries Thursday met ex-minister Rabi Narayan Nanda and complained to him of how they were tricked by Majhi. Nanda verified the matter with the Dangarkinchat sarapanch Purnima Gadba, PEO Ambika Padhi and contractor Deepak Majhi and expressed his dissatisfaction. Deepak has given an assurance that he would complete construction of the houses by June 15.
If houses are not ready on June 16, cases would be registered against Deepak, warned minster Nanda.
There are very many others facing the same plight. The officials are working hand in glove with these contractors and are only concerned about achieving the target by any means, even if it meant work on the houses remained incomplete, locals complained.