Assam: Anomalies alleged in implementation of schemes

OUR CORRESPONDENT

DIGBOI: In the wake of the upcoming Panchayat Election in Assam, several irregularities involving implementation of government’s pro-women schemes came to fore after the deprived female beneficiaries of Ward V (now Ward VI after delimitation) initiated a public meeting here at Tingrai Bongaon Primary School today morning. The aggrieved eligible women beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) and Orunodoi underlined several lapses openly during the meeting headed by Prava Dutta in the chair.

“My husband is a private driver supporting two minor school-going children residing in a dilapidated bamboo house with a tarpaulin roof but no welfare schemes of the government have reached my courtyard yet,” alleged Rupa Buragohain, tired of applying for PMAY, Orunodoi, ration card, and toilet for years. “According to the ward member, I must be either a widow or a handicapped in order to avail Orunodoi benefits,” she said.

“Because my husband earns Rs 1000 per month from a nearby primary school as a cook, I have been disqualified by the ward member from availing any benefits so far except for 35 kilograms of PDS rice in a month,” cried elderly beneficiary Gauri Das, in her 60s.

“I was shortlisted to avail PMAY but the benefit was allotted to my relative while the job card remuneration is being paid into my account submitted while applying for the PMAY,” said a woman beneficiary raising a serious concern about the monitoring mechanism, with allegations of gross failure of the officials responsible for overseeing the scheme.

“Ironically, the exclusion of a 16-year-old physically challenged-certified beneficiary of Ward IV (presently V) from government benefits emerged as a potential example of the failure of Panchayat Administration which surfaced during the discussions on relevant subjects.

Beneficiaries in dire need of housing, ration card, and Orunodoi benefits have been left stranded mysteriously, the reason being suspected either as political affiliations or greed of the executing bodies.

“How could the well-to-do families in the ward avail the benefits meant for the poor beneficiaries,” wondered Monoroma Sonowal Sangmai who is deprived of benefits under government welfare schemes.

The key figures under scrutiny are possibly the ward member, Panchayat Secretary, and the Block Development Officer of Hapjan Development who are accountable for shortlisting the beneficiaries, executing the schemes, monitoring the progress and submission of reports therein. When contacted, the concerned ward member Putul Bharali claimed that the performance of the concerned ward was the best under the Tingrai Panchayat. “Even the cost of geo tagging was borne out of my personal purse to ensure that no beneficiaries remained deprived of government welfare initiatives,” added the elected representative of current Ward VI.

However, the economically disadvantaged women groups in the meeting have called for a high-level inquiry into the irregularities and demanded accountability from officials involved in implementing PMAY-G and unfair distribution of other benefits therein meant for them. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, raising serious concerns about the integrity of government welfare programmes in the ward. Similar allegations from most of the remaining wards under Tingrai Panchayat would be investigated subsequently.

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