Criminal action awaits those responsible for misutilisation of Central assistance for construction of toilets in rural areas under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Apart from beneficiaries, elected representatives and Government employees involved in the scam are expected to be punished.
Notably, under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), over 60,000 fake beneficiaries have returned their ration cards fearing arrest. Action has been taken against several beneficiaries for illegally availing the benefits under the scheme.
The situation is similar in the case of alleged misappropriation of funds for construction of toilets under the Centre’s ambitious scheme. The Centre has been emphasising the need for constructing toilets for each household as part of its massive cleanliness scheme.
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the beneficiaries are provided Rs 12,000 each as Government assistance for construction of toilets. Out of the allocated amount, while the Centre provides Rs 7,200, the State’s share is Rs 4,800. The programme will continue till 2019.
A total of Rs 11,368.39 crore will be spent in Odisha in next three years for toilet construction, out of which the Centre will provide Rs 6,858.43 crore and the State Rs 4,504.76 crore while the beneficiaries will bear Rs 4.98 crore.
Toilets would be constructed in 76.59 lakh households besides 2,490 community toilets being constructed by October 2019 across the State.
As per the existing system under the scheme, field officers are responsible for keeping an account of funds provided to the beneficiaries for construction of toilet in their houses. The officers will also take snaps of the toilet constructed in the houses.
However, allegations have been reported about misuse of funds under the scheme. It is alleged that those who already have toilet facilities in their residences are availing the scheme’s benefit.
Besides, some are availing the funds by showing the snaps of toilets constructed in others’ houses.