The cyclone and flood-affected people of 14 villages under Panchugochia gram panchayat in Keonjhar district have alleged that most of them have not yet received any relief material from the Government.
They have alleged that when the victims have got little or scanty relief in some affected villages, the relief distribution work is being carried out illegally through private persons instead of the sarpanch and Panchayat Executive.
The discontented villagers further alleged that this is being done under the nose of the administration which is doing nothing to stop this.
Irregularities in relief distribution have been alleged by inhabitants of the severely affected villages including Panchugochia, Adahuria, Jasabantpur, Nilapur, Mugupur, Kanthiadiha, Jirapur, Balabhadrapur, Sahanandpur, Tikra, Biridi, Bareswar, Tarabha and Sarbeswarpur of Panchugochia GP.
“We remained cut off from the outside world for three days due to flood and after six days the administration sent relief which was distributed among only 60 per cent affected people which has caused resentment among masses,” said the villagers. “The list of beneficiaries was prepared and relief was distributed by private persons in lieu of the sarpanch or Panchayat Executive,” they added.
The community development officers were asked by the district Collector and administration to prepare the list and distribute relief materials among the calamity-affected people as per the 2011 Census, but it has been violated, the villagers have alleged.