Even as allegations are flying thick and fast that large scale irregularities have scuttled proper execution of rural housing schemes, scores of poor people in Subarnapur district have been leading a miserable life after they were left out of housing benefits.
locals in Tamamura village under Dunguripali block alleged that no housing benefit is made available to eligible people unless they have right political affiliations and pay bribe.
Here is a glaring example of how Jagabandhu Thapa and his wife Guru Thapa of the village have been living in a former Sarpanch’s house for over 10 years without their own house.
Thapa has no land of his own. Earlier, he used to eke out his living from daily wages. However, in last few months, he is not keeping well and can’t go out for work. His health has completely broken down. Now arranging two square meals a day has been difficult proposition for the poor couple when Thapa is almost sick to do any physical work. For some days, the couple is forced to go to bed empty stomach when people around them refuse to be generous.
Thapa does not remember how many times he has crawled all the way to Panchayat and Block offices pleading for a housing unit. Though he has met almost all the block officials, assurance is all that he has received so far. But all his efforts have been in vain and his pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
Now only source of survival is their ration card with which they receive subsidised rice. Denial of a housing unit to eligible beneficiaries is not new in Subarnapur, which has grabbed headlines for massive irregularities in distribution of such financial assistance. There have also been reports of the dead and young receiving the pension.
However, assurances by officials remain on pen and paper as no pension has been given to them till date. Meanwhile, locals have demanded the administration to take notice of their plight and provide them an Indira Awas unit and pension under old-age scheme.