On the second day of his two-day Odisha visit, while addressing a gathering at Samyukta Morcha Sammelan in Bhubaneswar, the BJP chief said, “To see a developed nation, we need to develop all states. And for the development of Odisha, the State has to get rid of the BJD.”
Nadda launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJD and accused the party of hijacking the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and re-branding it as its own- Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana.
“One person is facilitating houses but the credit is being taken by another,” he said adding that the BJP needs to make people aware of these hijackings of the Central schemes in Odisha.
The BJD government has deprived 60 lakh families of Odisha from the benefits of Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Under MGNREGA, the Centre sanctioned Rs 15490 crore but fake bills are being made here in Odisha. Under Jal Jeevan Mission, the Modi government gave Rs 4966 crore but people in tribal areas still have to depend on water from well and ponds, said Nadda.
"Odisha is immersed in corruption and the State has to get rid of it. “Each and every member of the BJP has to fight against these corrupt practices in Odisha to bring the BJP to power,” he added.
Earlier in the day, after seeking the blessings of Lord Jagannath in Puri, the BJP chief went to Bhadrak where he recalled the last meeting with late Odisha MLA Bishnu Sethi and said, "Bishnu Babu’s demise is a big loss for all of us."
While addressing the Karyakarta Sammelan in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, Nadda tore into that the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government while accusing it of falling flat in addressing the basic issues concerning the people of Odisha.
According to a letter issued by the ministry, the States have to pay Rs 10 as fine per house for the first month and Rs 20 fine for each subsequent months if sanction of the house gets delayed for more than one month from the dates of issue of the target.
Similarly, if the first instalment gets delayed for more than seven days from the date of sanction, then the State governments have to pay Rs 10 as fine per house.
Moreover, the State governments will be fined Rs 10 per house if capturing and approval of the photograph of each stage get delayed by three days from the day the photographs were captured, the letter stated.
The order will come into effect from 1 October, the letter read. However, no penalty would be imposed, if no central funds are available with the State; provided that the state has sent its demand in time, along with complete set of documents, fulfilling all conditions for release of central share, including release of state share of funds, the letter stated.
“The Odisha govt is least interested for the implementation of PMAY scheme. The implementation of the penalty will definitely wake the State government from slumber,” State BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said.
“BJP will take no action against Naveen Patnaik-led government,” said Jayadev Jena, senior Congress leader.
Commenting on the development, Minister for Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Pradip Amat said, “We are yet to receive any letter from the centre. We are far ahead from centre’s statistics.”
Despite tall claims of State government regarding the implementation of PMAY scheme, the ground reality tells a different story as many beneficiaries in the State are waiting for months to get the instalments.
While, one Bijaylaxmi Mohanty, whose son and daughter-in-law are divyangs, is running from pillar to post to get the first instalment, the contractor in Dunguriguda area in Nabarangpur district has allegedly duped the beneficiaries by providing asbestos roofing instead of concrete.
“After getting sanction, we borrowed money and started the construction work. But, we have to stop midway as we are yet to receive the first instalment,” alleged Saroj Mohanty, son of Bijaylaxmi.
“We are tribals. The contractor has duped us by not providing concrete house,” alleged Manku Jani, a resident of Dunguriguda area.
Addressing the media at a presser, Mohanty said, “I have a serious question for the Naveen-led government. Were the people who lost their lives due to wall collapse (during the floods in the State) not eligible beneficiaries? Why were they not given a ‘pucca’ house under PMAY-G?”
Mohanty alleged that at least six people lost their lives due to wall collapse in Mayurbhanj district and accused the State government of trying to suppress the matter. A woman died in the wall collapse, her father is also critical and currently undergoing treatment at Udala government hospital. Luckily, two minor children a four-month-old baby survived, he said.
He further said, “Even after such tragic deaths, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik claimed that there were zero casualties. Even the media reported that there were no deaths due to wall collapse. The Chief Minister himself visited Mayurbhanj district on August 12. Even, our country got the first tribal President Draupadi Murmu from Mayurbhanj district. But, till today, people live a life of neglect and deprivation in the region.”
“Odisha has been provided with 8.17 lakh houses under PMAY-G by the Centre. However, the Naveen-led government has miserably failed to provide houses to the eligible beneficiaries that led to the deaths in wall collapse,” alleged Mohanty.
Recently, Mohanty visited the flood-hit regions in Mayurbhanj district and took a stock of the situation. He assured all kinds of help to the people and directed his party workers to distribute relief and provide assistance to the people in need.
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri also said that out of the total sanctioned houses, 94.79 lakh have been grounded for construction and 56.20 lakh units have already been completed or delivered to beneficiaries.
"Based on the project proposals submitted by states and UTs (Union Territories), more than 115 lakh houses have been sanctioned across the country," he said.
Puri said states and UTs have been advised to expedite the construction of sanctioned houses so that all of them are completed within the stipulated timeline according to detailed project reports.
He said the identification and selection of beneficiaries under the PMAY-U comes under the purview of state and UT governments.
The minister said the PMAY-U addresses affordable housing requirement in urban areas through four verticals -- beneficiary-led individual house construction or enhancement (BLC), affordable housing in partnership (AHP), credit-linked subsidy scheme (CLSS) and in-situ slum redevelopment (ISSR).
He said states and UTs must formulate project proposals according to their assessed demand of houses under the scheme in a phased manner based on their resources and get them approved by the state level sanctioning and monitoring committee (SLSMC).
After approval from SLSMCs, states and UTs will submit the proposal to the ministry for approval of central assistance by the central sanctioning and monitoring committee (CSMC).
Completion of projects generally takes 12-18 months under the BLC vertical and 24-36 months under AHP vertical of the scheme, Puri said.
The BJD asked the Centre to open the PMAY portal in Odisha.
BJD alleged that despite Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s repeated requests to reopen the portal for the benefit of the tribals who were left out in the Awas scheme, no action has been taken to alleviate their plight.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra said, “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written thrice to the Centre in the last as many years urging to include 6 lakh tribals left out earlier, to be provided houses through the Awas portal.Tribals of western Odisha, southern Odisha and the KBK area are largely deprived of the Awas scheme,” Patra alleged.
Citing the example of Karnataka where the Centre has reportedly provided an additional 25 lakh PM Awas houses after opening the portal on January 13, Patra demanded a similar approach for Odisha too.
Responding to the allegations by Patra, BJP State president, Sameer Mohanty said, “The BJD is neck deep in corruption related to the PMAY scheme. At least Rs 1000 Crore has been siphoned off by BJD leaders in Awas scheme which was revealed by the Central officials who conducted an audit in 2020. The audit report was handed over to the Chief Secretary in April 2020, but no action has been taken against the corrpt leaders and officials, instead they are busy in saving each other’s back,” he alleged.
Pertinent to mention here that the Union Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 8, 2021, had approved the proposal made by the Rural Development department for continuation of PMAY-G beyond March 2021 wherein financial assistance is to be provided for the construction of the remaining 1.55 crore houses, as on March 31, 2021 under the scheme within the total target of 2.95 crore houses.
The scheme will continue till March 2024 to ensure that the remaining 155.75 lakh households within the overall target of 2.95 crore houses under PMAY-G would be provided assistance for construction of 'Pucca' houses with basic amenities to achieve the objective of 'Housing for All' in rural areas.
As on November 29, 2021, 1.65 crore PMAY-G houses have been constructed out of the total target of 2.95 crore.
However, politics has heated up in the State as the funds were released today at a time when different political parties are bracing up for the upcoming Panchayat Polls.
As per reports, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik distributed the BPGY assistance to around 31 lakh beneficiaries, through virtual mode today. The estimated expenses under this scheme are pegged at Rs 1,444 crore from the government exchequer. The funds were directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
However, political heat has gained momentum as the Odisha government has kick-started the fund distribution programme while different political parties are prepping up for the upcoming Panchayat polls.
The Opposition political units have alleged that the Ministers and MLAs of the ruling BJD are putting up posters of CM Patnaik at houses of the beneficiaries even as the model code of conduct may come into force anytime soon. Taking a dig at such a move, the Opposition has lashed out at the BJD government stating it as a political gimmick to allure voters.
Several MLAs and party workers of BJD including State Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera, were found putting up posters with Patnaik's picture after distribution of the funds.
BJP has sought answers from the BJD on 8 different questions and alleged massive irregularities in the distribution of funds to beneficiaries.
"The ruling party has conducted the programme only to gain publicity but this won't help any beneficiary. The Centre had allotted funds for house construction under PMAY scheme, but instead of allotting houses, they are distributing funds for repairing. The government will ruin the government treasury funds," said Golak Mohapatra, BJP General Secretary.
Meanwhile, Congress Spokesperson Debashis Patnaik said, "This move of Odisha government is to influence the voters. It can be clearly stated as a 'bribe' to voters to purchase their votes. Why did the government release the funds while the Panchayat poll is inching closer?"
However, BJD MLA Parshuram Dhada said, "Opposition always opposes any work done by the government. The funds released to the beneficiaries are for house repairing of poor people in rural areas."
Addressing a presser, Ministers Niranjan Pujari and Sushanta Singh said that deserving people are unable to make it to the beneficiary list as the concerned portal is not opening in the region (Western Odisha).
Even though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the Panchayati Raj Minister have apprised the Centre about the same, no step has been taken yet, claimed the Ministers.
Both the Ministers demanded the Center to take immediate steps to address the issue helping people of Western Odisha get PMAY benefits.
People of Western Odisha have no access to the portal. It's not opening. Immediate steps need to be taken to make it functional so that people can get houses at rhe earliest and the dream of houses to all can be fulfilled, said Minister Niranjan Pujari.
Responding to the allegations, former BJP MLA Rabi Nayak said several eligible people at the Panchayat level had sent applications in 2018-19, but their applications are still lying unattended at the DRDA offices.
The BJD is just trying to divert the real issues by misleading the people of the State, alleged Nayak.
odisha newsAccording to reports, more than 50 daily labourers of Jhodia Sahi in the city, who are eligible for PMAY, are still living in dilapidated kachha houses with their families. Their plea to the district administration to include them under the scheme and sanction pakka houses have so far fallen on deaf ears.
“I have submitted an application at the Municipality office here several times to sanction a house for my family under the PMAY scheme. But no one is paying any attention to my family's plight,” said Champa Sahu, a resident of the area.
“I am living in a partially damaged and dilapidated house with my divyang son and other family members. But the administration has turned a blind eye to our ordeal,” alleged Ananta Sagadia, a resident of Harijana Sahi.
Similarly, Kumari Kanndagiri also slammed the administration for their alleged lackadaisical attitude towards their ordeal.
“Officials of the district administration have visited our area several times for inquiry. But, so far, they have done nothing to include us under PMAY,” alleged Kanndagiri.
Situation of around 5,000 inhabitants from 26 slums in the district is no different. Most of them have no land and they are living in the huts constructed by them on Railway lands for the last 50 years. Though lands have been identified by the government to allot them, the plan is yet to be materialised. The slum dwellers have also brought the same allegation that due to the apathy of the district administration they have been deprived of owning a house under PMAY.
Meanwhile, Rayagada Municipality officials said that they will soon address to the complaints of the people who are yet to get houses under PMAY.
“More than 1,000 houses under PMAY have been sanctioned and around 700 houses have been completed so far. We will look into the complaints of the people and the eligible beneficiaries will be covered under the scheme soon,” said Yasir Bilal Ahmmed, a senior Municipality official.
(Edited by Pradeep Singh)
The pace of construction of houses in urban areas in the State is slow enough to make Odisha wait for 32 long years to address the housing shortage in its urban areas.
As per the data available with Union Ministry For Housing, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation (MOUHPA), during the last five years, Odisha could see the construction of mere 92,260 houses. The annual average rate of completion of houses in the State, thus, has been estimated at around 18,457.
In contrast, as per an assessment made by the Odisha Urban Housing Mission, the housing shortage in urban areas in the State has been estimated at a whopping 6.77 lakh.
Rural Story
Compared to the flop show in urban areas, the story in rural Odisha is not a hit either. The big takeaway of the rural story is the State has failed to meet the target of over 18.5 lakh rural houses under the two phases of the PMAY-G scheme.
Odisha could see the construction of over 16.5 lakh rural houses under the Central scheme to date. The annual average completion rate in the rural housing scheme stood at around 3.3 lakh. At this pace, the State can accomplish the housing for all in the rural areas after 2031 only.
As per the data available with the Union Rural Development Ministry, the ministry has given a target of building over 27.03 lakh houses in rural areas by the year 2022. And the target till 2020-21 was over 18.5 lakh. As of date, the State has completed only 16.5 lakh houses.
Though there has been no study on the housing shortage in rural areas in Odisha, as the 'Housing For All by 2022' plan includes the agenda of providing pucca houses to all citizens in the country, the housing shortage in Odisha can be ascertained from the Census 2011 data.
As per Census 2011, nearly 42 per cent of rural households (or 33.89 lakh) in Odisha dwell in one or two-room kachha houses. Therefore, Odisha needs at least 34 lakh pucca houses by 2022. At the current pace of construction under all housing schemes in the State, Odisha has to wait till 2031 to achieve the goal.
Housing Affordability Poor In Odisha
As per an RBI study on affordability to own a house across states in India, the lower-income group (LIG) and economically weaker sections (EWS) in Odisha have poor affordability to own a house, whereas the affordability is high in cases of MIG (middle income groups 1 and 2).
Among the neighbouring states, in the RBI's affordability index, the affordability to own a house by the EWS and LIGs in the neighbouring states - Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh - is very high.
'Tera Ghar, Mera Ghar' Flick In Odisha
When the affordability of EWS and LIG to own a house in Odisha is very poor, political parties here indulge in the wrangle over 'Yeh Tera Ghar, Mera Ghar'. When the ruling BJD claims that the State government has provided over 26 lakh pucca houses in the State, the main opposition party BJP reminds the ruling party here to tell how many houses have been built under the central flagship schemes (PMGY/IAY).
The Number Game
While the ruling BJD prior to the 2019 elections claimed that 18.9 lakh pucca houses had been built in the State between 2012-2019, the gap between reality and fiction had been really very huge.
As per the Awaas soft data, till 2019, the number of pucca houses built under all schemes (centre + state) in Odisha was around a mere 8.24 lakh.
Recently, CM Naveen Patnaik claimed that over 26 lakh kaccha houses in Odisha had been converted to pucca ones.
However, as of date, the Awaas soft data shows completion of only 21 lakh pucca houses in Odisha under all schemes.
Besides, 16 villagers received work orders under the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana in a programme at Kalyansinghpur. Moreover, 780 beneficiaries were also given old age pension.
“Work order under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and old age pension were distributed to beneficiaries. Emphasis was also laid on finishing the work within deadline,” said Jagannath Saraka, Bissamcuttack MLA.
Among others, Block Chairman Jogendra Wadaka and Block Development Officer Anup Panda were present at the programme.
It has been alleged that more than Rs 80 lakh have been allocated to as many as 60 deserving persons in 14 panchayats of Chandbali in Bhadrak district under PMAY but the actual beneficiaries been deprived of the housing loans.
Among the defaulters, some have availed Rs 1.2 lakhs in four installments, while others took Rs 90,000 in three installments for construction of houses under PMAY.
The reports in the website of Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, revealed that for construction of houses lakhs of rupees have been allocated to four people identified as Sapana Das of Dosinga, Niranjan Thatoi of Kandagaradi and Rabindra Sethi and Minati Rout of Orasahi of the district.
Surprisingly, the data also shows the pictures of their old thatched house with a new building, but in reality, some live in kutcha houses with a thatched roof, and others reside in pucca houses, which are yet to be constructed completely.
“My brother informed the matter to me. He said that someone else has availed funds under PMAY in my name. When I reached my village, I found those allegations true. I am poor, how will I build my house now,” alleged Sapana Das, a PMAY beneficiary.
It has further been alleged that someone might have submitted fake documents in the name of the beneficiaries to avail the loans.
“The fund allocated in my name has been transferred to someone else’s account. The BDO and the Sarpanch have assured me saying that the problem will be resolved. My house is still incomplete and I am forced to stay under open sky,” said Rabindra Sethi while narrating his plight.
Meanwhile, the panchayat authorities informed that the Gram Rozgar Sevak (GRS) has prepared the bills for allotment of the houses under the central scheme and the Block Development Officer (BDO) would take action into the alleged irregularities.
“I was unaware of the issue. When I asked the GRS, he replied that the lapses were due to some mistakes in the names. I have not prepared the bills there,” said Rajnikant Bal, Executive Officer of Dosinga gram panchayat.
On the other hand, the BDO stated that a couple of allegations of such kind had come to fore in 2016-17 and the matter was resolved then and further said if any such complaints resurface, investigation will be initiated.
“Construction of more than 3,000 houses was targeted in Chandbali. As the documentation work was being done by officers outside the area, there might be some errors in allotment and sanctioning of the funds. So far we have located six errors,” informed Manoj Das, Chandbali BDO.
Gyan Das, Bhadrak District Collector said, “There are a couple of people residing there in the same name and village. While both the persons with same names have been registered under the scheme, money to be received by the actual beneficiary has been transferred to the others’ bank account.”
He added that as the mistakes are due to same names of different individuals, the matter is being investigated and money will be transferred to the original beneficiary at the earliest.
According to sources, the team which includes chief investigating officer VS Rana has been sent by the Centre to look into misallocation of funds and corruption in the PMAY
The irregularities in allocation of funds and corruption were first reported by OTV. Moreover, an RTI activist, Ram Chandra Behera also met Union Panchayati Raj Minister Narendra Singh Tomar urging him to launch a probe into the scam.
Taking cognizance of the matter, the Centre decided to send a team to investigate the matter.
Acting on the directive of Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, the Chief Controller of Accounts sent the team to audit funds allocated under 14th Finance Commission for rural housing scheme.
Earlier, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wrote to Tomar urging him to probe the alleged irregularities in selection of beneficiaries under PMAY-G (gramin) in Mahanga.
In reply, Tomar had assured him to investigate the matter and to take action on basis of probe reports.
Replying to a letter from Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who alleged irregularities in selection of beneficiaries under the PMAY-G (gramin), Tomar stated, “The internal audit team will conduct a specific inquiry and submit a report. Further action will be taken on basis of the report’s findings.”
Tomar further said identification of beneficiaries of the PMAY-G is done on basis of the housing deprivation parameters as per the socio-economic and caste census 2011 data. Assistance is provided to the beneficiaries after a due verification by gram sabha.
Earlier, on July 25, Pradhan had written to Tomar to look into alleged irregularities in selection of beneficiaries under the PMAY-G.
Pradhan had also enclosed a petition sent to him by some villagers of Gokan gram panchayat in Mahanga in the letter to Tomar.
Investigations conducted by OTV revealed that the Panchayatiraj department’s website shows that only 426 houses have been built by the government under BPGY. However, on the other hand, a press note released by the CM’s office in May 2016 claimed that 10 lakh houses have been built in the past 2 years under BPGY and they have been officially dedicated to the public.
However, the Panchayatiraj department’s website shows that only 426 houses have been built in 2016-17 against targeted 93,063 houses. Moreover, the figures under Indira Awas Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are even more startling. Against a targeted 2,96,127 houses, not a single unit has been built.
“Every year 1 lakh houses under BPGY are given to beneficiaries and all put together 3 lakh BPGY and rest IAY houses have been constructed. We have constructed 10 lakh houses under rural housing schemes,” said Panchayatiraj minister, Arun Sahoo on December 12, 2016.
Also Read: Odisha govt built 7 lakh pucca houses in 5 months!
As per the minister, in the past 3 years 3 lakh BPGY houses and the rest under other schemes have been constructed. Now looking at the data from the Panchayatiraj department, a total of 8,43,582 houses under IAY and 1,56,437 houses under BPGY have been built from FY 2014-15 and May 2016.
There is gross divergence between BPGY data of Panchayatiraj minister, the department’s website, CM’s office and the government advertisement.
“By adding the houses constructed under IAY of all years, they are claiming that 10 lakh houses have been constructed under BPGY. This is completely misleading,” said Opposition leader, Narsingh Mishra.
“The CM is a trader of false information. In the past 3 years, only 1,40,000 houses have been constructed under BPGY. The CM is misleading the people in his campaigns and advertisements and is portraying the constructions under central schemes as that of state government’s own,” said Odisha BJP president, Basant Panda.
Further clarifying the government’s claim, Arun Sahoo today said “We have said that under the rural housing schemes – BPGY and IAY- the State government has constructed 10 lakh houses.”
The Housing and Urban Development Department recently issued a letter in this regard to all Collectors.
The district administrations and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) have been directed by the department to cross check the list and strike out names of ineligible beneficiaries.
“It is found that many names of ineligible beneficiaries have been included in the list. In many cases, even applications from the respective beneficiaries are not available in the ULB office,” the letter from G Mathivathanan, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the department, read.
All ULBs have been directed to take up 100 per cent field verification and cross check eligibility of the beneficiaries and to ensure availability of documents, records and affidavits. The documents of the applicants should duly corroborate the application, the letter noted.
Besides, the ULBs are advised to complete the field verification process and get it authenticated by concerned Municipal Commissioner/Executive Officer, and countersigned by the concerned District Collector-cum-chairman, DUH before forwarding to the State Urban Housing Mission office.
Informing this to the media persons after the State Cabinet meeting here today, chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said the Cabinet gave approval for two amendments to the NFSA Order to facilitate the waiver of the exclusion criterion for these categories of beneficiaries.
“As per the amendments, beneficiaries who have been covered under IAY, BPGY and PMAY have been exempted from the exclusion criteria under NFSA so that they can be included as NFSA beneficiaries. The second amendment made to this order is that the state government has decided to offer a general amnesty up to September 30 for ineligible beneficiaries, who have been removed from the NFSA list, to return their cards. The money collected by the state government as penalty for fraudulently obtaining rations cards would be returned to them during the period. The announcement to this effect has already been made by the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare minister two days back,” he said.
Additional secretary, Union Ministry of Rural Development, Amarjit Sinha, who reviewed the progress of PMGSY and PMAY in the State, lauded the State's efforts in implementing these two flagship programmes of the Centre.
"Odisha has done remarkably well in the housing programme. It's a big success story. A large number of houses have been completed. The progress in Housing programme is outstanding in the State. Even in the PMGSY, the work has been very good," Sinha said.
The State has targeted to cover 19,000 kms of rural road under PMGSY and nine lakh pucca houses under PMAY in the next three years, chief secretary AP Padhi said.
"We have targeted to complete a stretch of 19,000 km road under PMGSY in the next three years. The Centre has granted funds for nine lakh houses under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), which has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)," said Padhi, who attended the review meeting.
He added that of the around Rs 1.25 lakh to be spent on each house, the Centre would bear 60 per cent while the rest of the amount would be provided by the State.
The Centre has decided to complete construction of all earmarked rural roads by 2019.
But the state BJP is not impressed by the certificate handed out by its own government at the Centre.
"We feel the people of Odisha are losing out on their legitimate demand due to the State government's inaction and inefficiency. The State has failed miserably to expedite the tender process in many works and is unable to produce the utilisation certificate in time," BJP leader Lekhasri Samantsinghar told OTV.
It is not as if Modi has not criticized his ‘friend’ Naveen earlier. But the digs he has taken on the Naveen dispensation on earlier occasions have lacked the venom that he reserves for political rivals like, say, an Arvind Kejriwal or a Mamata Banerjee. They have mostly been of a kind that belongs to the “willing to hit but unwilling to hurt” variety. In this background, it can be said that Saturday was the first time he shed his inhibitions and showed a willingness to hit where it hurts the most. For, the BJD government is certainly on a sticky wicket when it comes to big ticket corruption and the ‘PC Culture’.
While this must have cockled the hearts of BJP leaders in Odisha, who have been sulking over the diffidence of its top central leaders, including PM Modi, to take on Naveen, does it really mark the beginning of an all-out, no-holds-barred fight to the finish ahead of the next elections? I am afraid the answer to this question has to be an emphatic ‘No’. Significantly, Naveen himself dubbed the barbs aimed at his government by Modi as an attempt ‘to enthuse’ BJP workers, which was not very far off the mark in this columnist’s view.
Equally importantly, both Modi and Naveen refrained from personal attacks against each other. While the PM talked in general terms about corruption in the government without naming or implicating Naveen, the latter, in his response, refrained from hitting back at Modi and trained his guns on Union Petroleum and Skill Development minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the man being projected by the BJP as its Chief Ministerial face, instead. Had Naveen been really been willing to hit back hard, he would have raised the Rafale scam, the issue which is threatening to become the Modi government’s Bofors moment, and not limited himself to corruption in the Ujjwala Yojana and the Skill Development mission, both of which come under the two departments headed by Pradhan. By refusing to rake up Rafale and other big corruption charges against the NDA government, the BJD chief has dropped enough hints that he has no intention of taking on Modi – at least not yet - and the rhetoric is only intended for public consumption. While the two ‘frenemies’ can be trusted to ratchet up the tirade against each other in the run up to the elections, it looks like they would stop short of hitting out at each other with the intention of hurting.
At the heart of this unwillingness to engage in a full-scare war of attrition is the uncertainty over the outcome of the next elections. The BJP knows that much water has flown down the Ganga since it won an unprecedented mandate in 2014 while the BJD supremo too knows that things are that honky dory for him in this election though he does show a nonchalance in public. Both leaders know they may need each other’s support post election and therefore are wary of pushing each other to a point of no-return. Recent happenings like the BJD support to the NDA government during the no trust motion against the NDA government, National Register of Citizenship (NRC) and the election of the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha would suggest that both sides are keeping the door ajar for a possible post-election understanding, if required.
Both the BJP and the BJD appear to have decided on a strategy that would have their leaders in Odisha continue with their daily, no-holds-barred attacks against each other till the elections even as top leaders of both parties continue to have a cozy relationship, a tried and tested tactic that paid rich electoral dividends to Naveen during the UPA years.
Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric; BJP, BJD are still ‘frenemies’.
(DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are author’s own and have nothing to do with OTV’s charter or views. OTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same)
Making startling revelations through his twitter handle, Panda mentioned that in a review he did of around 8,000 homes supposedly built for the poor people, the Kendrapara district administration could show him records of only about 150 houses.
Referring to a newspaper article that mentioned about failure of rural housing scheme in Telangana, Panda tweeted, "Sadly, in Odisha too. As MP, I reported several such irregularities to state govt. In a review of around 8,000 homes supposedly built for poor ppl, Kendrapada dist admin could show me records of only abt 150 !! I spoke to highest levl & WROTE for vigilance enquiry, but no action."
In reply to a Tweeple whether all the houses are ‘built’ by the State government, Panda replied saying, “Both State (minor share) and Union government funds are utilised like most government schemes, but ALL "built" by state govt!”
He further added, “Shocking leakage in government housing schemes in Odisha (when MP, I'd written demanding investigation). Beneficiaries receive funds AFTER paying huge bribes, making home building unviable.”
Refuting the allegations, BJD spokesperson Sameer Dash said, "Whatever Odisha government had promised, it is being implemented. I have no information on what the Kendrapara district administration told Jay Panda when he was the MP. The state government had promised to build 25 lakh houses (5 lakh a year) and till now construction of 18 lakh houses is complete."
The newspaper article also mentioned that the Centre has asked the Telangana government to return Rs 2190 crore given to the state for the construction of rural houses for the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
The Telangana government reportedly refused to update the Centre of its progress on implementing the scheme while a senior official mentioned that the State was pushing its own housing scheme which promises two-bedroom houses to all the homeless poor.
A report of The Economic Times also mentioned that the Centre has decided that the target of 70,674 houses allotted to Telangana would now be given "to other well-performing/needy States".
Addressing a presser, the Deputy Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly, Bishnu Charan Sethi said, “The State government is beating its own trumpet over providing people with pucca houses. If that is true then why do they have to shift millions of people living in thatched houses to shelter points during cyclone?”
“The Centre is providing lakhs of pucca houses under PMAY scheme. The State government should have distributed them among the beneficiaries. But given the number of evacuations we see in each cyclone under BJD’s 22 years of rule, it creates doubt on the Government's capability,” Sethi said.
“In fact, the Centre has provided 8 lakh pucca houses to Odisha recently. I really do not know who will receive those houses. And I am sure, even more numbers of people will get evacuated from their thatched houses when the next cyclone hits Odisha,” Sethi further alleged.
Similarly, veteran Congress leader and MLA Suresh Routray targeted the State government over the number of evacuations too. Routray urged the government to utilise the grants and aides received from the Centre to repair houses, infrastructure and restore normalcy in the cyclone-hit coastal district as soon as possible.
Routray, however, lauded the coordination between Centre and State to manage Cyclone Yaas in Odisha. “By the grace of God, Yaas did not hit Odisha as per the speed projected. But the damages are real and widespread. The government should fast track the restoration works,” Routray said.
"Progress under the PMAY has been slow. As of now, we're not looking at realistic completion of the targeted number of homes. As per the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, out of the 79 lakh homes sanctioned under the PMAY so far, only around 39 per cent have either been completed or occupied," it said.
"The gap is too big to ignore," the report said.
On new properties in the market, the report said supply of new housing units in the top seven cities in the country declined by 64 per cent in the last five years from 5.45 lakh units in 2014 to 1.95 lakh units in 2018.
Housing sales also declined 28 per cent during the same period from 3.43 lakh units in 2014 to 2.48 units last year, it said.
Addressing the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, the President said women are being given priority in the registration of houses being built under the PMAY in the rural areas.
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has two parts -- PMAY (Gramin) and PMAY (Urban). Under the mission, the government aims to ensure 'Housing for All'.
"Under this scheme, nearly two crore new houses will be built in the villages during the next three years," Kovind said.
In his speech, he also stressed on the urban transport infrastructure to cater to present and future requirements.
While developing infrastructure, attention is also being given to address the challenges posed by pollution, he said.
On the issue of the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), the President said, "The facility of 'One Nation, One Card' has been launched to realise the dream of seamless mobility."
In March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the indigenously-developed NCMC to enable people to pay multiple kinds of transport charges, including metro services and toll tax, across the country.
Dubbed as 'One Nation One Card', the inter-operable transport card would allow the holders to pay for their bus travel, toll taxes, parking charges, retail shopping and even withdraw money.
The President said the government was developing a transport system, which is not only fast and safe, but also environment friendly.
"For this, special emphasis is given to public transport. The metro rail network is being expanded rapidly in several cities," he said.
Patnaik welcomed the medium to long-term vision of the Union government while he expressed concern over some issues.
"The Union Budget 2019-20 speaks of medium to long-term vision of the government which is good for the country. However, these need to be backed by commensurate budgetary allocations," said Patnaik.
He said the imposition of cess and surcharges by the Central government, which remained outside the divisible pool, further reduced the resources available to the states.
He welcomed higher allocation for sectors like health, education, skill development, drinking water, livelihood mission, women and child development.
The Chief Minister, however, said the decreased allocation for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), core schemes for SC, ST and other vulnerable groups and pension under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) was a cause of concern.
"Increased allocation for Railway projects is a welcome step. I hope the railway projects in Odisha would be fast-tracked with adequate allocation. However, reduced allocation for national highways would adversely affect inter-state connectivity," he said.
The Chief Minister said while the Union Budget laid emphasis on rural connectivity through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), housing through Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), and Swachh Bharat Mission, these need to be backed by allocation of funds.
"I wish the government enhanced the quantum of assistance to farmers under the PM KISAN scheme at par with our KALIA scheme. Landless labourers and sharecroppers should also have been included in its fold," Patnaik said.
Prior to the elections, Naveen had said that every single family residing in slums would be provided pucca house in phases by 2022. However, questions have also been raised now over the efficiency of the Odisha government in building houses as many are still deprived of it.
Kalpana Datta, a divyang woman from Bhogarai alleged, "I had applied for a pucca house in 2017-18. I badly need a house." Even after two years, Kalpana's form hasn't reached the regional panchayat office.
Same is the case with Ratan Haldar of Nidhibani village. He has been running from pillar to post for a pucca house, but till now his name is nowhere in the beneficiary list.
CM Naveen is scheduled to launch the foundation laying ceremony of about 4 lakh rural housing beneficiaries through video conferencing at 11:45 hrs tomorrow. However, BJP today lambasted the state government citing that there is no mention of PMAY anywhere in the adverts.
Addressing a presser in Bhubaneswar today, party general secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar mentioned the yearly contributions by Centre to Odisha under PMAY. She said that Odisha received Rs 3100 crore in 2017-18, Rs 3600 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 4820 crore in 2019-20, all under the Centre's flagship scheme.
"Odisha government in its website has claimed that it has built as many as 20,91, 443 under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana. This is a blatant lie of the state government. Funds are being provided by the Centre but the government here says 'We committed, we delivered'. This is how they are hoodwinking people," alleged Lekha.
Responding to BJP, BJD MLA Arabinda Dhali said, "Houses are being built under State's scheme as well as Centre's scheme. Why would anyone hijack the scheme or the funds? Odisha government is capable enough and has launched many such schemes and successfully implemented them as well. There is no truth in the comments made by BJP."
Not only this, the BJP also alleged that the 'Mo Awas' book with 'Mo Ghara, Mo Swapna' (My House, My Dream) slogan released by the ruling-government, is misleading the people of Odisha.
BJP Spokesperson Golak Mohapatra said, "The state government is rendering PMAY as its own Awas scheme with some new criteria. The fund allocated for the housing scheme is being transferred to BJD party members, which is why the fate of poor people has remained unchanged. As it is centrally-funded, I would like to request the government officials to follow the necessary guidelines and not distribute the money among BJD workers."
Responding to BJP, Odisha minister Padmanabha Behera said, "There is no question of hijacking the funds as everyone knows the 60-40 share between the Centre and State. Allocation of houses is being done as per the list prepared in 2011."
According to the official declaration of the Odisha government, it has built as many as 20,91,443 houses under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana. While reports claim that PMAY Housing For All is a 60:40 scheme between Centre and State, BJP further questioned the fund utilisation and numbers mentioned by the Odisha government.
Amid this battle between the two parties, it was found that many of the actual beneficiaries have been left out of the housing scheme in Odisha.
A case in point is one Somanath Jakaka of Raghubhata village of Rayagada district. Along with his family members, Somanath has taken shelter at his neighbour's house after his own house was damaged a few months back.
Even the administration has allegedly turned a deaf ear to Somanath's repeated requests for a pucca house. He said, "I have been staying at my neighbour's house. We have applied for Indira Awas Yojana, but the Tehsildar is saying that our name doesn't show in the ranking system."
Not only Jakaka, 20 other families in the village are also waiting to get enlisted in the housing scheme. "It is better if we do not say anything about the Indira Awas Yojana. Such a shame it is to see that so far only one out of the 20 odd families in the village has received benefits of Indira Awas," alleged one Dharama Tajingi.
While CM Naveen recently launched the foundation laying ceremony of about 4 lakh rural housing units in Odisha, it remains to be seen how things take a turn from here.
The national party has alleged that BJD has hijacked Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), and undemocratically changed the name of the scheme to Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana.
As per reports, the protesters will submit a memorandum to the Governor of Odisha, Prof. Ganeshi Lal demanding action against the ruling BJD.
Slamming the ruling BJD, BJP leader Bhrugu Baxipatra, said, “This sole aim of the protest is to condemn Odisha government’s attempt to misuse the Centre's aid of PMAY. They are illegally spending the funds sanctioned under PMAY on Biju Pucca Ghar. We are trying to reach the central leadership through the Governor.”
However, no comments could be obtained from any of the BJD leaders over the allegations levelled by BJP.
BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra and partly leader Sarada Pradhan alleged that there are widespread irregularities in identification of beneficiaries in the Central Government's flagship PMAY.
As per their allegations no less than 10 lakh out of the total of 12.75 Lakh PMAY beneficiaries in Odisha are ineligible.
Citing that 85% of the total beneficiaries are bogus, Sarada highlighted that 226 people were declared eligible to get houses under PMAY in Jamara panchayat under Nischintakoili block of Cuttack district even though 166 did not qualify.
He further alleged that "There are 142 bogus beneficiaries under PMAY in Jamara Panchayat alone. Multiple members of the same family have been granted houses under the scheme. Moreover, people who already own houses in cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have also been selected as beneficiaries under the PMAY."
BJP also went on to allege that the number of pucca houses distributed in Daudapur under Nischintakoili block of Cuttack district exceeds the actual number of residents. Surprisingly, more houses have been promised to the residents.
Replying to these allegations of BJP, Housing and Urban Development minister, Pratap Jena said, "Only allegations won't work. BJP should produce proof, if they have any. I have made it clear before that strict action will be taken against officials involved in any kind of corruption."
According to the complainant Bhagirathi Sutar, Nibedita Behera, daughter of Rabindra Behera of Narendrapur village is an unmarried girl and studying in college but a PMAY house has been allotted under her name.
Sources said, Nibedita has also received Rs 20,000 of the total 1,20, 000 rupees sanctioned to her under the scheme in the first phase.
On the other hand, Nibedita's father has clarified that he is not aware of being allotted any house under the PMAY.
Reportedly, the complainant Bhagirathi and other villagers after coming to know about the alleged irregularity informed the Block Development Officer and the district Collector about the same.
"An unmarried girl was mentioned as a widow and money was drawn in her name. We have enough proof to substantiate our allegations and have also apprised about the same to the concerned authorities, alleged Sutar.
Tihidi BDO Dibyajyoti Deo, said, "The survey team allotted the house after carrying out necessary inspection. However, if there are allegations that a college girl has been allotted the house by being mentioned as a widow then an investigation is necessary."
Deo assured that if any mala fide intentions are detected against the officers involved in the case, appropriate action would be taken against them.
On the other hand, another such allegation of PMAY scam has been reported from Puri district where the family members of Nimpada block chairperson have reportedly got three houses under the scheme. The alleged scam has come to the fore after one local moved Orissa High Court alleging the same.
One Somnath Nayak of Dahijanga village alleged that the chairperson misused her power to get the housed under PMAY scheme. However, the chairperson Manaswini Khatei refuted the allegations.
"No one from my family is a beneficiary of the PMAY scheme. The allegations are baseless and politically motivated," said Manaswini.
As per reports, the PEO Basant Behera had allegedly taken bribe from some women beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for early release of funds under the scheme.
However, he allegedly duped them following which the aggrieved women caught Behera and thrashed him with slippers (as purportedly seen in the viral video).
The PEO could not be contacted for his comments on the incident.
As per reports, the Director of Panchayati Raj Department, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil issued a letter in this regard to all the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Project Directors.
The rule will be applicable for the defaulting beneficiaries before 2016-17 who received money under any of the housing schemes of the government but couldn’t construct a house to facilitate their house building.
The department mentioned that many beneficiaries sanctioned with houses prior to 2016-17 find it difficult to complete the house construction because of the then low unit cost of the house. The concerned BDOs were also requested to sensitize these beneficiaries for paying back their paid amount in order to become eligible for future sanction of houses.
However, these beneficiaries are at liberty to refund the paid amount to the BDOs. If they pay it back, they can receive fresh grants under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and if they decide not to pay back then they won’t get any more housing grants.
The local BDOs would deposit the amount with the Block’s contingency account under PMAY (G) and refund the same to the state nodal account as and when intimated by the department.
The department has also directed to launch a widespread awareness campaign in this regard, further mentioning that the local SHGs should be roped in to assist by sensitising beneficiaries through door to door campaigning. The names of those defaulting beneficiaries are also available in the portal of the department.
Data available on the Union Rural Development Ministry’s website claims that the Odisha government has not spent a single penny and not a single house has been constructed under the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana in 2019-20. The State Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari had also hinted about the merger while tabling the annual budget earlier this year.
As per sources, during the year 2018-19, the State government had a target to construct 29,443 houses under the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana but only 21,031 houses were constructed. Surprisingly, the government has also not released the pending amount for construction of the remaining houses. It has now raised questions in the mind of the beneficiaries who are now worried if the government would even release the pending benefits under the scheme or not.
Prior to the general elections, the government went on an overdrive to promote the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and even campaigned saying that it has successfully managed to construct 17 lakh pucca houses during the preceding four years. However in reality, the government had constructed only 2.83 lakh houses.
At present while the Panchayati Raj department, the executing authority of the scheme, still has a logo of Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana, it does not have any details of houses constructed under the scheme.
“Even though the government has not allocated a single penny for Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana, they are proudly advertising the scheme. In other words this is called theft and the ruling-BJD is clearly involved in it,” said BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan.
Similarly, Congress leader and former Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo said that it is another political ploy of the government to keep its grip on public support without actually doing any welfare.
"Earlier, the Centre used to fund 100% of the housing schemes, but after Modi government came to power, our expenditure on housing schemes has increased and so we are attaching Biju Pucca Ghar with PMAY scheme," said senior ruling-party MLA, Debi Prasad Mishra.
Champa lost her son and daughter-in-law some 10 years back and has been supporting her three grandchildren since then in a broken thatched house that neither saves them from rain nor the cruel sun. With no source of income, the family manages to survive by whatever Champa gets as a bit of old-age pension.
Holes all around the roof of their house with a small relief-polythene covering only half of the home narrates the extent of her poverty. While at the twilight of her life she keeps begging the government for a house under PMAY or Biju Pucca Ghar and some financial assistance to help her grandchildren grow, it seems the government has run out of any other help after just handing her over 5 KG of PDS rice and an old-age allowance of Rs 500 a month.
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"I have crossed 60, so can't really move out of the house for manual labour. I have to adjust with 5 KG of rice and an old-age allowance of Rs 500 that I am getting from the government," said Champa while narrating her ordeal.
Asked about the plight of the elderly woman and her minor family members, local Sarpanch of Tangiri GP, Sasmita Pradhan said, "We have taken all the steps necessary to provide her with government assistance. She is already getting her old-age allowance and 5 KG rice."
The locals who know her and her torment are quite concerned about the wellbeing of Champa and her grandchildren. One of her grandchildren is a teenage boy, who was forced to stop his studies after matriculation due to acute poverty.
"She has been running to the BDO office and Collector office for the last 10 years to avail a house under the housing scheme, but none seems to be concerned about her plight," said Buddhadev Behera, a social activist.
When asked, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Chhendipada denied commenting on the issue.
In one such instance of gross abuse of power, Hemakanti Munda, the lady Sarpanch of Salveta panchayat in Agalapada block of Bolangir, has reportedly razed several under-construction houses being built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAYG).
As per reports, five tribal families under this jurisdiction were sanctioned five houses under PMAY-G, and because they did not have their own land, they started construction work at a vacant government land in Salveta village only after it was allotted to them by the local panchayat and block administration. The construction began after they received the work order for the same.
“We have received 2 installments of PMAY and only after Tehsildar and RI allotted the vacant land, we started construction work. Though the amount wasn’t enough, we somehow managed to begin the construction process by availing loans from money lenders. Now the houses have been razed, how will we survive?” said one of the beneficiaries.
Asked, the concerned lady Sarpanch said that she demolished the houses by exercising the Collector power she has been empowered with. "I along with my husband and some members of the village committee, demolished the houses as I have been granted with the power of a Collector," Hemakanti said.
Such a 'forced' eviction drive carried out by the Sarpanch has now left these people including children on the streets with their belongings.
Following a complaint by these families at Loisingha Police station, the bulldozers were seized and an investigation was also initiated in the matter.
On the other hand, Agalapur BDO clearly said that no such power has been granted to anybody to raze a house built with government funds. "I am aware of the incident and had also visited the spot to meet the affected families. A police complaint has been filed and necessary action would be taken based on the probe," said BDO Bhubaneswar Satpathy.
As per latest reports, a team of Loisingha Police led by DSP Ranjita Singh has arrested the lady Sarpanch and her husband Mohan Munda for abuse of official power. The couple has been forwarded to court. Eight others against whom FIR was lodged are still absconding.
https://youtu.be/c97dMPpmiEQ
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Last month, OTV had telecast a report on the incident highlighting how Munda, her husband and few others razed several under-construction houses being built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAYG).
Surprisingly, when the Sarpanch was asked about this, she said she demolished the houses by exercising the Collector powers she has been empowered with by the Odisha government - reportedly for Covid exigencies. “I along with my husband and some members of the village committee, demolished the houses as I have been granted with the power of a Collector,” Hemakanti had said.
The district administration swung into action after the news was aired on OTV. The families who were rendered homeless also lodged a complaint at Loisingha Police station, following which the bulldozers used were seized and an investigation was initiated in the matter.
Later, the Sarpanch was arrested by Loisingha Police for abuse of official power. Her husband Mohan Munda has also been arrested in this connection while other accused are reportedly absconding.
According to sources, five tribal families were sanctioned houses under PMAY-G. As they did not have their own land, the construction of houses was started on vacant government land at Salveta village after it was allotted to them by the local panchayat and block administration. However, the eviction drive carried out by the Sarpanch rendered the tribal families homeless.
One of these affected-beneficiaries had said that they had received two instalments of PMAY and only after Tehsildar and RI allotted the vacant land, they started construction work. "Though the money wasn’t enough, we somehow managed to start construction by availing loans from money lenders. Now the houses have been razed, how will we survive?" she said.
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On Thursday, a delegation of the saffron party met Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal at the Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to him alleging massive irregularities in the implementation of PMAY in the State. The delegation has sought his intervention with regard to the alleged irregularities in the selection of PMAY beneficiaries in Odisha.
Speaking against corruption can invite death, and the murder of former block Chairman of Mahanga Kulamani Baral allegedly for raising voice against rampant corruption in PMAY is a glaring example of that, the BJP has alleged, adding that the central scheme is being hijacked by Odisha government.
State BJP chief Samir Mohanty said, "The flagship programme promising ‘housing for all’ by 2022, is not reaching the actual beneficiaries. PMAY is being robbed, and those who raise their voices against such corruption are being murdered. In such a critical situation in the State, lives of many poor people are getting hammered. We have therefore apprised the Governor to intervene."
There are also allegations of irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries, wherein BJD government is accused of picking up party members as PMAY recipients while the actual beneficiaries are left out. Further, it is alleged that officials are seeking favour for grant of a house under PMAY.
Launching a scathing attack on the ruling BJD, National Spokesperson of the BJP Sambit Patra accused Naveen government of showing a step-motherly attitude towards PMAY beneficiaries. He said, "A government is like a mother to the citizens. Its prime responsibility is to treat every person with equality so that none is deprived of their basic rights. However, the Odisha government is behaving like a step-mother, and what ultimately happens is BJD workers or those in favour of the party are selected as beneficiaries."
"In every district, you will find people living a life of penury with no roof over their head. It is PM Narendra Modi's dream to provide a pucca house to every poor family, but Odisha government is posing hindrance to the growth of the State. We will continue fighting for the rights of these poor people," the senior BJP leader said.
In response, State Water Resources Minister Raghunandan Das has asked the BJP to come up with the list of leaders who they think are involved in corruption. "They are alleging corruption in PMAY, but they should name the ministers and MLAs who according to them is mired in corruption. We will then launch a probe to find out if there is any truth in the allegations."
A delegation of the BJP met the Governor and demanded for a high-level committee for impartial probe into the alleged irregularities and corruption by the State government in allotment of houses to the beneficiaries under the Central housing scheme.
The Saffron party alleged that the Odisha government is appropriating the Central scheme and showcasing it as its own. The State government is deliberately branding the flagship programme of the Centre as its own, the party claimed.
The party alleged that during the initial stages of the implementation of the scheme, PMAY was being used in abbreviated form whereas Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) was being used in expanded form by the State government. However, this was changed with abbreviations of both PMAY and (BPGY) expanded forms.
The Odisha government last year had directed all the district Collectors and project directors of district rural development agency (DRDA) to complete co-branding of all the PMAY (G) and BPGY houses by end of February 2021.
“Today, we apprised the Governor about the irregularities as PMAY is the flagship programme of the Centre. We have demanded that there should be no co-branding on the grounded houses,” said State BJP president Samir Mohanty.
Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik said that there should be no change in the nomenclature as it is the flagship programme of the Central government.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government officials could not be contacted over the allegations levelled by the BJP leaders.
As per reports, the minister was on a visit to Binika when some women assembled in front of him with the work orders of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), that were reportedly awarded to them a year back.
The women alleged that, even after one year of work orders, the construction of their houses have not begun so far. Protesting the inordinate delay, they returned the work orders to the minister denying any assistance from the government. However, when a grieving woman laid herself on the feet of Behera, he ignored her and walked off the spot.
The act of Behera, on the International Women's Day has invited criticisms from the locals.
Manjulata Naik, a PMAY beneficiary said, "Behera provided us the work orders in a programme at Town hall a year back. The officials told us to demolish our existing houses, so we brought them down. But to our dismay, no construction work could begin even after a year."
"So we returned all the work orders to the minister and demanded justice. But he walked off ignoring us. This is preposterous," Naik added.
Behera was unavailable for comments on the allegations.
(Edited By Ramakanta Biswas)
In a letter to PM Narendra Modi, Patnaik demanded 7.87 lakh pucca houses in 14 districts which were battered by extremely severe cyclone 'Fani' in May 2019. The CM has also insisted houses for 6.07 lakh elligible households in remaining non-Fani affected districts.
"Odisha has identified, geo-tagged and Aadhar seeded 7.87 lakh houses in 14 Fani affected districts. These beneficiaries may be brought into the permanent wait list of PMAY (G) and considered for sanction of PMAY(G) special houses," the letter read.
Patnaik further mentioned that 6.07 lakh households have been left out from the permanent wait list of PMAY (G) in the remaining districts.
The CM has urged Modi to instruct the Ministry of Rural Development to 'open window of Aawas and Mobile App to geo-tag these houses to accomplish the objective of safe housing for all'.