High drama unfolded at the Puintala BDO office in Bolangir on Friday when a Prime Minister Awas Yojana beneficiary along with his wife and child locked themselves in the office and attempted suicide.
The beneficiary tried to end his and his family members’ lives because his instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana had allegedly been held up.
According to sources, Sitaram Behera of the Kutenpali area under the Puintala block had constructed a house under the yojana. But, he is yet to receive the second and third instalments under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. He had earlier taken the matter up with the concerned officials but to no avail.
Today, he, along with his wife and child reached the Puintala BDO office, locked themselves in the office and tried to end their lives. Sitaram had a poison bottle in his hand. On being informed, police reached the spot and tried to persuade them to come out of the office room. But they listened to none.
Later, the block development officer (BDO) reached the spot. When he spoke to Sitaram and his family members, they obliged and opened the door.
The Puintala BDO said, “In the first instalment, he received Rs 40,000. He is to receive his second and third instalments. When he met me in the morning, I told him that we had held up his second instalment because he submitted his RoR but constructed his house on government land. From this year onward, we have been instructed to hold up the payment of beneficiaries who have constructed their houses on government land.”