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Bolangir/Sambalpur: Allegations of ‘no percentage no work’ are at a rise even after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, earlier this month, asked the district collectors to stop collecting the PC or percentage from contractors for undertaking government work orders at block level in the State.
In a fresh allegation from Bolangir district, beneficiaries at Semelpali village under Belpara block were forced to pay the Gram Rozgar Sewak (GRS) of their panchayat to enlist their names for receiving old age pension and other facilities.
Talking to OTV, a beneficiary Kumari Kumbhar said, "He asked for money saying we will be able to get pension from that month onwards. We sold our valuables to collect the money and paid him Rs 300 each. Even after two years he did not return our money nor did we receive the pension."
When contacted, Belpara BDO Priyadarshini Mirdha said, "We do not have any such information on the issue but as it has been alleged an enquiry will be done on it."
Due to a similar demand of percentage in Sambalpur district, Umakanti Bariha of Lapada village under Bamra district suffered for months to get a house under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). As per her allegation the GRS of their panchayat had demanded Rs 5000 to give the work order to avail the benefit. Unable to pay the amount Umakanti did not receive the work order for six months.
It was only after reporting the matter to the Bamra BDO that Umakanti was able to get the work order.
Meanwhile, the BDO has said that a show cause notice has been issued and action will be taken after proper investigation.
"We came to know that the GRS had not provided the work order, which he was forced to give after our instruction. We have issued a show cause notice against him, a proper investigation will be done after receiving the reply and the DRDA will be apprised about it,” said Bamra BDO Lankeswar Amat.
