Irregularities continue to dog the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) in Nuagaon block of Sundargarh district with fresh allegation coming to the fore that several undeserving persons have availed its benefits meant for the BPL families.
Sources said after implementation of the rural housing scheme for BPL beneficiaries in 1995, Nuagaon block office recently updated the number of beneficiaries at around 3,100 from 2005. As social audits are underway in the block, several irregularities have surfaced.
According to sources, Thebe Oram of Joketa village under Nuagaon gram panchayat availed the benefit by using the BPL number of one Raina Munda in 2010-11.
Similarly, Brindaban Sahu of Sorda gram panchayat, had used the IAY amount to construct a concrete house 15 years back. After Sahu's death, his widow Dutiya Sahu has been entitled to IAY house in 2013-14 in violation of norms.
This apart, Manohar Singh and Gangadhar Toppo of Madupur village in Limda gram panchayat allegedly received the final instalment under the scheme in 2012-13. But there is no trace of their houses.
While these fake beneficiaries are availing the benefits of the scheme, some BPL persons have been deprived of the IAY.
Bimal Jojo of Meraltoli village under Sorda gram panchayat lives in a dilapidated mud house. Jojo said, "I have been visiting the panchayat office for the past two years to avail the provisions of the IAY scheme but in vain."
Another villager under the same gram panchayat - physically challenged Subodh Munda - has similar tale to tell.
The list of such deprived but deserving persons is long.
Official sources said 663 IAY houses were allotted to 20 gram panchayats of the block for 2013-14. As per the scheme, each beneficiary is entitled to revised amount of ` 75,000.
Those in the know of facts blame lack of monitoring on the part of officials for the 'unholy nexus' among Sarpanchs and Gram Panchayat Extension Officers.
They alleged that during palli sabha and gram sabha meetings, only a few names are finalised while the rest are added to the list later.
They claimed that undeserving persons have been allotted houses under the IAY scheme by paying `5,000 to `10,000 which goes to the pockets of the sarpanchs.
Kutra BDO Poma Tudu said all data would be scrutinised after completion of the social audits.
She said instructions have also been issued to trace incomplete houses and fresh lists of beneficiaries would be put up for public scrutiny.
Sundargarh Collector Bhupendra Singh Poonia said the administration is committed to remove anomalies to ensure effective implementation of the scheme.
Stern action will be taken against those found guilty, added Poonia.