Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: The officials of Rural Development Department (RDD) were caught on the wrong foot, when the Minister during a visit to RS Pura, raised serious objections over the status of beneficiaries of Individual Household Latrine Scheme (IHLS) scheme under Swatch Bharat Mission Grameen (SBMG).
Sources informed Early Times that the Minister of Rural Development Department (RDD) got infuriated during an inspection at RS Pura nearly ten days back, when he found that old toilet complexes were again painted and shown as newly constructed under IHLS scheme.
"As per scheme, an amount of Rs. 12,000 is given to the individual, who builds toilet, on his own but in RS Pura some old latrine structures were painted again and were shown as beneficiaries and when Minister noticed it, he got irritated", an official, who was present there said.
He further said that according to IHLS scheme under Swatch Bharat Mission (Grameen), every individual has been given Rs. 12,000 but earlier, an amount of Rs. 11400 was paid to beneficiary. "With active connivance of some officials of Rural Development Department (RDD), many toilet complexes, which were build earlier under the same scheme are now shown as new toilets and funds is being drawn under the scheme, instead of raising new toilet complexes", sources alleged.
They further alleged that Minister for RDD, Abdul Haq Khan took serious note of the matter and reportedly had issued directions to the officials. "The example of RS Pura is just tip of an iceberg but a deep rooted nexus is running in RDD and some officials are making money", sources alleged.
Sources said that some provisions of scheme were flexible and support of an old wall of house could be taken to construct the toilet. "There might be provisions that the old toilets build by BPL families from their own pocket, can also get benefit of scheme. These provisions of scheme are being exploited by the officials and if there will be no regular check on the working, majority of beneficiaries will be those, who have already build toilets", sources alleged.
Pertinently, under the scheme, Union government has decided to get rid of open defecation problem in upcoming five years across country. |
