The Garo Hills unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today alleged that political agents are cheating beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) by instructing them to set aside nearly 10 per cent of the money they would receive through the scheme to pay off officials.
PMAY is a centrally-sponsored scheme that provides Rs 1.3 lakh to set up pukka houses in rural areas.
“This was a dream scheme of the BJP government but political agents in Garo Hills are acting as middlemen between the public and the Community and Rural Development Block officials and making deals before issuing the schemes,” alleged party spokesperson, Bernard Marak.
The allegation comes following a conversation between one alleged political agent and a beneficiary, a recording of which was sent to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Power Minister James Sangma and Tura MP Agatha Sangma.
In the recorded conversation, the agent can be heard assuring the beneficiary of issuing the money for the scheme and instructing him to complete the house within an amount of Rs 90,000, with not less than Rs 10,000 to be set aside for block officials.
“The scheme was meant to benefit the poor but the way they are implementing the scheme is nothing less than looting them. The sub-standard PMAY house is not something the BJP will compromise on. People who are victims of such corrupt practices should approach the BJP leaders,” asserted Marak through a release.
The BJP further added that despite the efforts of the party to provide the best scheme, the political agents were superseding even the block officials.
“The agents, who are local political leaders, seem to have influence on the officials and this needs to be verified by the authorities. It is unfortunate that the political party in question is the BJP’s coalition partner in the state government. They are stabbing the poor people in the rural areas and bringing shame to the noble initiative of the BJP,” he alleged.
“We want everyone to benefit from the schemes meant for every Indian and uproot the very root of corruption,” Marak added.
