| PM's SBM turns into major scandal in Jammu | | Payment withdrawn against non-existing, incomplete toilets' | | Early Times Report
Jammu, July 4: In a major setback Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to make India open defecation-free by 2019 under Swachh Bharat Mission, the flagship sanitation programme of the Indian government, several hundred lakh rupees have been swindled off in Bahu Fort area alone.
According to complaints received from the residents of various Bastis and Mohallas in Bhau Fort, it was a huge scandal. "Of 450 families residing in Bazigar Basti in Bahu Fort area, most of the households are without toilet. Even the district Jammu was officially declared open defecation-free on September 8, 2018", sources said.
They said that in Gandhi Nagar assembly constituency alone, almost all the Bastis and Mohallas have something contrary to administration's claims.
"Former MLA Kavinder Gupta, to gain publicity, befooled the masses. Gupta like other MLAs from Jammu district got the criteria twisted, as without ground work the district was declared open defecation-free by the officers concerned just to please their political masters", said the residents of Bazigar Basti.
Tara Chand, president Bazigar Community of Bahu Fort, challenged the administration to visit the area and show where they built the toilets.
"Under SBM, Rs 12000 was given to each household by the government, but it is shocking that we don't have a single toilet here. We have to go to Sulabh Shauchalaya by paying each time", said Moni Ram.
The residents of Mahasha Mohalla in Bahu Fort also rejected administration's claims of open defecation-free district. "Please come here with Crime Branch and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register cases of fraud committed by officers and BJP's workers on the name of SBM", they said.
Similar complaints of misappropriation of funds under SBM for toilets have poured in from Nai Basti, Sheikh Nagar and other ignored colonies in Bahu Fort area. |
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