KAILASHAHAR, June 26 (TIWN): At a time when the ruling Government has been towering with tall talks about the development of the state and calls it ‘the Golden era’, a shocking truth has came to the fore after an allegation raised against the embezzlement of money under the Indira Awaas Yojana scheme at ADC (Autonomous District Council) village Ward no. 2 under Unakoti District.

Indira Awaas Yojana is a social welfare programme, created by the Indian Government, to provide housing for the rural poor in India, but negligence of the authority brought corruption in the scheme. Under this scheme the beneficiaries get a total amount of Rs. 75, 000 to build their houses.

Reportedly, under Indira Awaas Yojana scheme for 2012-2013 financial years, funds for the housing accommodation were sanctioned for 128 beneficiaries in the area who were also allotted with lands under the state Government scheme.

Interestingly, out of 128 beneficiaries, a total of 40 beneficiaries were given the total sanctioned amount of fund and the remaining 88 beneficiaries are suffering due to the negligence of the officials. Some of the beneficiaries got Rs. 15, 000 and some got Rs. 20, 000 of amount instead of getting the total amount which was Rs. 75, 000 including wood and tin roof for the beneficiaries.  

Another, interesting point came in to notice that though the remaining 88 beneficiaries were not getting the full amount of the fund sanctioned for them but interestingly their name along with their thumb signature was with the concern bank from where they have collected the amount.

One more thing came into notice that the officials showing the old house of the beneficiaries sanctioned the money from the bank and with mutual discussion the official grabs hefty amount from the sanctioned fund and give the beneficiaries some amount as part of concession.

When asked about the issue to the beneficiaries, they said that the concern officials made them fool, saying ‘by your name fund for building the house has been sanctioned, so sign on the concern documents and collect the money’, but interestingly the beneficiaries received only Rs. 15, 000 to Rs. 20, 000 instead of Rs. 75, 000.

After knowing about the embezzlement going on in the area, Block Development Officer (BDO) Abhadananda Baida enquired about the situation.

The 88 deprived beneficiaries were Bedajay Reang, who got Rs. 15, 000, Dhainnoy Ram Reang got Rs. 20, 000, Joykoma Reang got Rs. 15, 000 and Podarung Reang got 25, 000.

When the deprived beneficiaries informed about the situation to current Panchayat Secretary Abdul Sattar, he said that he is not aware about the situation and also he does not have any kind of information or report about this. Besides, he said that during the 2012-2013 financial years he was not assigned as Panchayat Secretary so the matter will be much clear for the former Panchayat Secretary.

Blaming the Panchayat Secretary and the Chairman of ADC village, MLA Birjit Sinha said that if the beneficiaries are not availed with the sanctioned money under the Indira Awaas Yojana scheme then they will be bound to gherau the ADC office under Unakoti.