Centre prods, Dispur sleeps over IAY complaints

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, February 11: The Centre has received six complaints regarding various irregularities in implementation of the Indira Awas Yoja (IAY) scheme in Assam in the last three years.

However, the State government has apparently failed to take action in any of the cases, despite being sent several reminders by the Union Rural Development ministry.

During the current fincial year, a Goalpara resident, Ratan Ra of Kushdhowa Tribal Development Block, filed a complaint with the Union ministry regarding “corruption and irregularities in allotment of IAY houses”. The ministry had referred the complaint to the State government in August, 2014. The State is yet to furnish the ‘action taken report’ (ATR) so far.

In the year 2013-14, the Centre had received two complaints from gaon. The complaints were regarding “corruption/scandal” under Pakhimonia Development Block and Khagarijan Development Block. The Centre has referred the complaints to the State government. Despite being given four reminders later, Assam government did not submit the ATRs.

Similarly, four complaints were received by the Union Rural Development ministry in the year 2012-13. The complaints were from Karbi Anglong, Darrang, Karimganj and Kokrajhar. The complaints were regarding cases of non-completion of IAY houses and other irregularities, misappropriation and fraudulent withdrawal of funds.

In three cases, Assam government did not furnish the ATRs.

In one case, Assam government “forwarded an ATR but that was not found enclosed”.

“The State government was requested to send the ATR again, but it did not comply,” documents available with The Sentinel revealed.

The rendra Modi government is learnt to be considering an overhaul of the rural housing scheme, in the light of a plethora of allegations over the misuse of the scheme in several states, and reme it as tiol Gramin Awas Mission (GRAM).

The 29-year old scheme has been subject to misuse across several states due to the absence of a proper monitoring and implementation strategy.

The IAY, launched by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1985 as a sub-scheme of Jawahar Rozgar Yoja, is being implemented as an independent scheme since 1996.