Individual Household Latrines funds under the Swachh Bharat Mission in Lakhimpur & Dhemaji ‘misappropriated’

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: At a time when the Union Government has been aspiring to declare India as a clean and hygienic nation on October 2 this year, a section of departmental officials and Self-Help Groups (SHG) concerned, engaged in the construction of Individual Household Latrines (IHL) in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji, has indulged in corruption in implementing the schemes taken up under the much-hyped Swachh Bharat Mission. As a consequence, all the endeavours under the mission are going to end in smoke and fulfilment of its objectives has turned into a distant dream in both the districts.

The reason behind this fear is the growing allegations against a section of Public Health and Engineering (PHE) department officials and SHG with regard to misappropriation of fund meant for the construction of IHLs at various places in Dhakuakhona subdivision of Lakhimpur district along with Dhemaji.

As per the allegation made by the Dhakuakhana district unit of Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) in front of the media, an SHG named Partha SHG, allegedly managed by only one person, had misappropriated the fund meant for construction of hundreds of IHLs under PHE, Ghilamora division of Dhakuakhona subdivision.

It was also alleged that the SHG constructed the IHLs with low-quality materials in Lakhimpur-Dhemaji border area under the subdivision. Moreover, most of such IHLs have allegedly been left half-constructed or unconstructed and due fund was already withdrawn. As a result of such betrayal by the SHG to its stakeholders, open defecation continues in the Pub-Dhakuakhana Gaon Panchayat under Dhakuakhana Development Block.

In this regard, the organization has filed a complaint against Gomug Pegu, the Assistant Engineer and State Public Information Officer in the office of the Executive Engineer, Ghilamora PHE division, alleging him of backing Partha Mili, the president of the Partha SHG.

Though Debasing Chungkrang, an activist of Dhakuakhana TMPK, sought for information regarding the construction of IHLs by Partha SHG, the Assistant Engineer, denied to supply him due information by saying that “the information sought by you cannot be furnished under Section 11 under RTI Act, 2005” vide letter No. PHEE/GLM/Estt-30/2019-20/20 dated April 6.

The SHG concerned won the Best SHG Award from the SDO (Civil) of Dhakuakhana during the Republic Day programme in 2018. Under such circumstances, not providing due information about the SHG under the RTI Act by the office concerned has raised eyebrows. The leaders of the organization demanded the DC of Lakhimpur to launch an impartial and effective investigation regarding the issues alleged.

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