Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 3: The State Government has admitted irregularities in implementation of Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) in Jammu Kashmir where crores of rupees were bungled in distribution of benefits under the scheme.
Certain unpleasant facts have come to the notice of the Department in the implementation of Indira Awas Yojana as bunglings were noticed in the distribution of benefits under the scheme, says an official document, provided in the House.
The official data also reveals that Kashmir valley was getting maximum share of the IAY every financial year virtually establishing the allegation of step motherly treatment with Jammu.
During the last financial year, Rs 5735.85 lakh were distributed in Valley while Jammu got only Rs 2120.04 lakh. Similarly, for the year 2011-12, Rs 5914.09 were given in Kashmir and only Rs 2325.57 lakh in Jammu.
Confirming that there was no much transparency in the identification of beneficiaries, the document elaborates that the lists were maintained in the blocks on a very perfunctory and skewed survey conducted by the officials of Rural Development Department while no senior officer was involved in sanctioning the cases.
Moreover, after the identification of beneficiaries was handed over to the Panchayat, the system exacerbated further as prioritization was left to the Village Level Workers (VLWs) who obtained a list of beneficiaries from the Panchayats.
“Many cases have come to the notice where the benefit has either been provided to the close relatives of Panchayat Raj functionaries or undeserving persons probably in lieu of some pecuniary considerations,” reveals the document.
Pertinent to mention that under Indira Awas Yojana, the Department of Rural Development Department provides respectable and hygienic accommodation to the rural communities living below poverty line and having no house. Under the scheme, a direct financial assistance of Rs 75000 is provided to the shelter less people for constructing the houses and an amount of Rs 15000 is provided for upgradation of houses.
For the current year, an amount of Rs 140.64 crore was allocated under IAY and 18752 houses have been taken up for individual construction and upgradation. During the last two financial years, Rs 16086.95 lakh were spent under the scheme.
As the maximum amount under the scheme was made available in Kashmir valley and spent there, the document has quoted few instances of bungling, noticed in Jadden Kotabal Panchayat, block Chadoora, district Budgam; block Qazigund in Anantnag; block Dachipora, Anantnag and Panchayat Halqa Rakh Hygam, block Sopore, Baramulla.
Even as fresh guidelines for systematic reforms in the implementation of IAY were issued a few months back, the Government is tightlipped over action against the guilty officials and recovery of money from the undeserving beneficiaries.
The guidelines under IAY, issued by Government of India, lay down that the list of beneficiaries is to be prepared by the Deh Majlis (village Sabha) and no further approval of any other authority is required.
However, the fact remained that Deh Majlis were not conducted properly in the State and the prioritization was left to the VLWs.
As per the fresh guidelines, sanctioned by Commissioner Secretary RDD and PR, the Panchayats will now maintain a wait list of the identified persons, whose names will be certified by the Panchayat Secretary after personal inquiry. Thereafter, the concerned BDO will visit the Panchayat and verify the veracity of the reports provided to him by Panchayat Secretary. After this process is completed, the list shall be forwarded to the ACD for a random check to the extent of 20 percent and only then money will be transferred in the account of beneficiary. Further, it will be duty of the BDO to ensure that the house is constructed by the beneficiary under IAY.
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