PMAY Lapses In Odisha: Three VLWs Suspended

Khurda: The District Collector of Khurda suspended three Village Level Workers (VLWs) of Begunia block in Khurda district on charges of irregularities in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The three suspended VLWs are Narayan Jena, Jayadev Jena and Kedar Behera.

Besides, the collector has recommended the Odisha government to initiate disciplinary actions against the Begunia Block Development Officer (BDO) Badri Narayan Majhi and the Additional BDO Mahendra Jena.

The district administration was earlier directed to initiate an inquiry following allegations of irregularities in the housing scheme in Podadiha village of the district.

"We carried out a detailed inquiry into the allegations and found irregularities in 77 cases out of the 123 complaints we had received. The then VLWs posted in the area have been suspended and disciplinary action against the then BDO and the Additional BDO has been initiated," said Diganta Routray, Project Director, DRDA Khurda.

It is worth mentioning that a slew of allegations relating to irregularities in PMAY has come to fore from across the State. While the government has ensured stern action against those involved in irregularities, it is further alleged that beneficiaries of the housing schemes in Odisha are getting selected based on their political affiliations.