The Rising People’s Party (RPP) on Tuesday filed a complaint with the State Crime Branch, PHQ – the anti-corruption unit set up by the state police – in regards to complaints received of the Rural Development (RD) department harassing beneficiary villagers of the PMAY-G scheme.
“The contention of the RPP is that the RD department’s pressure tactics is nothing but extortion,” a press release issued by the RPP stated.
The complaint filed by the RPP with the State Crime Branch points out that “complaints have been received from all over the state of RD department officials threatening the beneficiary villagers” of the PMAY-G scheme. The scheme pertains to construction of houses for the rural poor in hilly areas.
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“The complaint that the RD department is now harassing the poor beneficiaries at the behest of NDPP-BJP Coalition is a serious issue which cannot be ignored by the Crime Branch,” the release stated.
According to the press release, thousands of beneficiaries were identified several years ago and a first installment of Rs 22,000 approximate was deposited into the beneficiaries’ accounts, for the construction of houses under the PMAY (G) scheme. Years later, after the release of the second installment amounting to Rs 88,000 into the accounts of the same beneficiaries, the RD department officials have now been demanding that the beneficiaries withdraw the amount of Rs 78,000 and hand over the cash to the respective Block Development Officers (BDOs).
“While the installment amount may vary block-wise, the gist of the complaint is the extortion aspect which the Crime Branch is more than competent to investigate,”
The RPP asserted hope that with the complaint filed, the State Crime Police Station will investigate the subject matter in all seriousness regardless of “political pressure which will surely be exerted upon your authority”, adding that the complaint filed is in public interest and the Action Taken Report (ATR) may be intimated to the RPP without delay.
The RPP has also appealed to all the beneficiaries of the scheme not to give in to the demands of the RD department while the State Crime Branch investigates the matter and not to return the money which rightfully belongs to them.
Meanwhile, the RPP has issued phone numbers of their officials to be contacted with regard to any further complaints:
- Hekito Sema: Vice-President, Rising Youth, 7005159255
- Tokato Chishi: Gen Secretary, Rising Youth, 9366957822
- Khithemu Kath: Secretary, Rising Youth, 6909027052
- Kulupoyi Vadeo: President, Phek district, Rising Youth, 9862847736
- Nigel Sangtam: Secretary, Dim-Chumu-Niuland, Rising Youth, 7005618400
Background: PMAY-G
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme was launched by the Government of India in 2015. The aim of the initiative is to provide affordable housing for all by 2022.
The PMAY scheme has two components: The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U).
The aim of the PMAY-G scheme is to provide pucca houses with basic amenities to all houseless householders and to those who live in dilapidated houses.
The key benefit of the scheme involves the central and state governments sharing the cost of housing units –
- 60:40 ratio of cost sharing in plain areas with up to Rs 1.20 lakh monetary assistance for each unit
- 90:10 ratio of cost sharing in the Himalayan states, North-Eastern states and Union Territories (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir with up to Rs 1.30 lakh monetary assistance for each unit
(Source: Transforming India:My Gov and Bajaj Finserv)
