Post News Network
Keonjhar, August 10: Scores of poor in this mineral-rich district have been deprived of benefits under housing schemes like Indira Awas Yojana, and Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana while ineligible people of economically sound classes are usurping the housing units by allegedly inducing pecuniary benefits to officials.
Sadly, the district Vigilance committee and Vigilance sleuths are sitting idle when these illegalities are rampant. This is evident from the fact that thousands of poor people in various areas still live in shanties and dilapidated houses as they are even unable to repair their dwellings.
It is alleged that genuine beneficiaries run from pillar to post taking up their matter, but to no avail. The administration is accused of taking no action in this regard. As a result, such schemes are far from achieving their targets.
As per guidelines, eligible beneficiaries in a village are usually chosen through Grama Sabha or Palli Sabha. Accordingly, housing units are disbursed to them. But this is not happening as the block officials fraudulently strike out names of some beneficiaries and tamper the list by entering names of ineligible people, according to sources. People’s representatives are allegedly involved in this act, the sources said.
The government provides Rs 75,000 to each beneficiary for a housing unit under Indira Awas Yojana. The funds under IAY are disbursed in a phased manner to beneficiaries. But officials demand Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 from a beneficiary. When they are unable to pay the amount, they are denied their entitlements.
According to sources, in 2013-14 fiscal, the district had to disburse 7,375 housing units and ensure their completion, but 2,509 houses have remained incomplete. Similarly, 5,201 out of 8,410 IAY houses were not built in 2014-15.
In 2015-16, the district has been sanctioned 8,721 housing units under IAY and 2,710 under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana, but most of them may not been completed in time.
District Rural Development Agency project director Biranchi Narayan Mohanty said there are various reasons for the delay in completing the houses. Many beneficiaries divert IAY funds to other purposes, he added. But the officer is hopeful of achieving the target by the end of the year.