Our Correspondent
Kokrajhar: Rampant corruption has been alleged in the construction of PMAY-(Gramin) houses at Ballamjhora and its adjacent villages under Balagaon Village Council Development Committee (VCDC) in Gossaigaon sub division of Kokrajhar district where many poor villagers have been waiting for their houses to be completed even after withdrawal of sanctioned amount in full by the members who were allotted the construction work.
A group of media persons from Kokrajhar, based on information of the villagers visited Ballamjhora village on Friday to assess the construction of PMAY-G houses and found that most of the houses belonging to BPL families are half done and some of them are left after flint level. All beneficiaries alleged that the sanctioned amount of Rs 1.3 lakh has already been withdrawn from their account but most of the construction works are still hanging at flint level while others are half done.
Talking to journalists, Sinku Rabha of Ballamjhora whose house is halted after flint work said that her allotment for PMAY house was sanctioned in 2017 but nothing has been done till today although the sanctioned amount was allegedly fully withdrawn by the VCDC member who was allotted construction work. She said the VCDC member called them to the bank branch in Gossaigaon for three times and asked them to put thumb impression for withdrawal of money. She also said that they have pressurized the members for completion of construction but they remain silent. Now they are not certain whether the houses would be completed or not.
Shanti Rabha, another poor woman whose husband is bed ridden due to paralysis since the last six years said that she had lost faith on the VCDC member who was alloted the construction work as the money has already been swindled. Bindu Rabha and Moinati Rabha also echoed the same and said they were alloted PMAY houses in 2017 but constructions are half done.
Meanwhile, the president of All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU), Kashiabari Amchalik Committee Promod Pwnchibog and secretary Ranjit Koch said that altogether 197 PMAY houses were sanctioned under Balagaon VCDC of Gossaigaon sub division of which 92 houses are left incomplete and there is no sign of construction of the houses as sanctioned amounts of 44 houses have already been withdrawn while second instalment of 48 houses have also been withdrawn by the constructing party. They said Ballamjhora village comprised of Bodo, Rabha and Adivasi people and all these communities are victims of corruption.
The student leaders alleged that the corrupt practices on the construction of houses of the poor villagers were unfortunate and said they will not remain silent. They threatened that the student organization will unearth all corruptions in the construction of PMAY-G houses. They demanded that there should be proper inquiry into the matter. They further said that they will lodge complaint to DC and SDO (C) shortly.