The intended beneficiaries of housing schemes were asked to bribe the block officials for getting the benefit in Gajapati district.
Scores of residents of Puipani village under Sialilati panchayat of R Udayagiri block who lost their houses due to Titli cyclone were asked to pay Rs 2,000 and a chicken each to get the benefit under the housing schemes.
About 28 households of the village had been affected by the Titli cyclone. They were lodged at a rescue shelter. However, after the cyclone, they returned to their houses only to find that they had been razed.
Later, these people repaired their houses and covered them with straw and tarpaulin sheet. They are presently staying in those houses amid wretched conditions.
The victims several times requested the authorities to get benefit under housing scheme but nobody paid heed. Hardly did their grievances reach at the district and block administration. However, at long last, they were asked to pay bribe to be enlisted for getting the housing benefits, said sources.