An investigation team has been formed and probe ordered in hut allocation scam under the Central sponsored scheme Indra Awas Yojna (IAY) at Gomia block in Bokaro district.
At least 62 huts that were allotted under IAY in the year 2010-11 and in 2011-12 are still incomplete. The beneficiaries are forced to live under mat and plastic roof in the half built structure.
According to the beneficiaries they had receive only the first installment payment for their huts. But official documents are representing full payments to the beneficiaries. “The data sheet has been manipulated after using 'Whitener' on the payment amount disbursed to the beneficiaries”, added an IAY beneficiary. Our huts are incomplete as we did not receive the second installment and forced to live under Plastic and Mat roof, he said.
In prima-fascia scam has been surfaced, on the directive of SDO Bermo Ramesh Gholap a six member's team has been formed for investigations, informed Vinit Kerkatta CO Gomia adding "stiff action would be taken against the guilty as soon as team will submit their report".
IAY the flagship programmes for Rural Housing (since 1985-86) to help build or upgrade homes to the BPl families are still in the grip of corrupt system. Since 14 years of the inception of Jharkhand, thousands of huts under IAY are still incomplete, while several others have crumbled.
According to the norms the construction work should be completed within the period of six months when the work was kicked-off, officials informed.
like Gomia, there are many other beneficiaries in the Badgunda panchyat in Giridih district who are allotted huts under IAY in the financial year 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and in 2013-14 are still incomplete; victimised by the middlemen the beneficiaries loosed their aids and now facing hard time.
Recently, Bhukhli Khatoon a resident of Badgunda village, under Taratand police station of Gandey Block of Giridih died homelessly. She was 56 years and allotted house under IAY in 2011-12.
The fund for the house was credited to her bank account (2012) but she failed to get it in her life. A middleman took her passbook after coaxing her and withdraws all amounts from the bank.
like Bhukhli there are so many others across the Jharkhand who died homelessly in past years while several still struggling to get their homes after getting allotments under IAY.
Despite the Government's sturdy initiatives, poor villagers are not getting the benefits of the government sponsored schemes. Callous attitude of the officials along with the involvement of middlemen irked them and development is still a far cry in several villages across the Jharkhand.