A scam in the Mo Kudia scheme has come to the fore in Sundergarh district.
A widow, who had been sanctioned financial assistance of Rs75,000 for making a house under the scheme, was now building a house worth lakhs of rupees, raising eyebrows here.
The locals questioned if proper enquiry was made before recommending the widow’s name for the benefit under the Mo Kudia scheme that is meant for the homeless, BPl persons.
Sources said, one Kantilata Bhainsal had married to Abhimanyu Bhainsal, a resident of Katangidihi village under Sabdega block in Sundargarh. Abhimanyu was working as labour in a private factory at Jharsuguda but two years back he had died in a mishap inside the factory.
last year, widow Kantilata’s name had been included under Mo Kudia scheme. She was sanctioned Rs75,000 to construct a hut. Kantilata withdrew Rs30,000 in first installment and Rs35,000 in second installment. But looking into her construction work which is in progress now, it has come to notice that a good house worth of about more than lakhs would be constructed in place of a hut as big size walls made with brick and cement has already been constructed.
Katangidihi Sarpanch Geloti Xess and Panchayat Executive Officer Raju Thakur pleaded innocence in this regard. “We do not know how her name was included in Mo Kudia Scheme. Her name had not been discussed in Gram Sabha. Her name was also not available in the list,” they said.
“That widow had gone to Sundargarh Collector and had complained before him. Thereafter her name had been included under Mo Kudia scheme,” said Khageswar Mudi, BDO, Subdega block.
He added that since the widow had got some amount from insurance after her husband’s death, she was constructing a bigger house.