Meghalaya villagers "unhappy" with delay in the investigation into PMAY corruption charges

TURA:

Fourteen job cardholders from Nongchram – Village Employment Council (VEC) 1 under the Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Block of Rongjeng Dambo in East Garo Hills (EGH), Meghalaya have reportedly been deprived of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

The villagers also submitted a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of EGH and provided the names of the rightful beneficiaries.

According to the complaint, the funds for the PMAY houses had been diverted to others.

The DC of EGH, Swapnil Tembe, forwarded the complaint to the concerned Block Development Officer (BDO) and directed him to investigate the matter.

However, according to the villagers, no action has been taken so far.

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A visit to the tiny village, close to the border with West Khasi Hills district, brought out more revelation after the villagers accused the Gram Sevak (village advisor), Daniel K Marak, as the one behind it all.

“When we raised the complaint, he came to us and said he would adjust our names in the next batch of PMAY houses. How will that be possible without once again taking away what rightly belongs to someone else?” asked one beneficiary.

As per the complainants, an amount of Rs 52,000 in the first tranche was transferred to bogus beneficiaries instead of the intended ones.

Interestingly, some bogus beneficiaries who received the money began constructing low-cost housing.

They found the details of such anomalies after cross-checking the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY–G) and other related apps, which showed that the persons who received the first instalment were not even on the list.

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“The names of the beneficiaries in the list are non-existent or dead. Even the beneficiaries that figure on the list appear just as letters like JVUUHV, JZSDCG NJGJDCS. However, the PMAY identity cards and work code that appear are the ones of the genuine beneficiaries,” chimed in another beneficiary Pobing Momin.

"The administration is dragging its feet on such an open case of manipulation and corruption," the villagers said.

“What is stopping them from taking action on the matter? We are the ones who are suffering. Will the central government provide us with another sanction for a PMAY house? Why can’t they just do what is right and act on those involved in corruption?” asked Jedingstar Shira - another beneficiary.

On being contacted, the DC said the matter is pending with the BDO.

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