Skip to content Skip to navigation

Goof-up in IAY implementation in West Garo Hills; BDO refute charges

Rakme Sangma (named changed), aged about 40 years from a village near Phulbari in West Garo Hills, a mother of two daughter feels cheated. She alleges that the block office has given them substandard material for construction of a house under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY). 
 
After making several visit to the block office, she was listed as the beneficiary for the scheme. However, the result has disappointed her. She wants to complete the construction of her house but the materials are of very poor quality, especially the bricks that has dampened her spirit. 
 
There are many like Rakme in neighbouring villages of Phulbari, who are victims of ignorance. According to IAY guideline - (a) The construction should be carried out by the beneficiary; (b) No contractor should be involved in the construction of the house; (c) The house should also not be constructed by any government department or agency. In such a case, why has the block office not allowed any choice to Rakme and many others. 
 
In Shyamnagar locality of Phulbari, many beneficiaries are willing to narrate their sordid accounts. However, they requested us not to quote them. 
 
"We are giving this information on good faith. Please take up the matter at appropriate level", said a local leader, who didnot wanted to be identified. 
 
Another youth activist, accompanying this scribe said, "We want you to highlight this on media, so that goverment will constitute a probe". 
 
A sum of Seventy Five Thousand (INR 75,000) is provided to the beneficiary under IAY for construction of a low cost house. This scheme is meant for below poverty level families. Civil bodies investigating the matter on condition of anonymity remarked - there is a nexus between block office and distributor of materials. 
 
The block office is making arrangement for providing bricks, cement and CGI sheets to the beneficiaries. This is inappropriate, as the guideline clearly states - the beneficiary should be given the sanctioned amount, which should be transferred to his/her bank account. 
 
"I have been provided with bricks, tin, cement, etc and INR 25,000/-. Block office made me sign saying that I have received a Cheque of INR 75,000/-. If we question, they get angry.", said another beneficiary. 
 
However, Selsella BDO Dr. Roy refutes the allegation saying that funds are directly transferred to the beneficiaries account. "No money or construction material has been given to any beneficiary. Gram Sevak is ensuring that the funds are utilised properly and houses were built", said Dr. Roy. 
The reality looks different - as not one but several beneficiaries have spoken of their sordid affairs. 
Many even say that Gram Sevak is involved in overseeing whole procedure for release of IAY funds, questioning his role and manipulation.
 
There were others, who remarked that Gram Sevak hardly makes any survey of the village or houses built. There are many contradictory remarks, which has emerged demanding a probe towards this entire goof-up.
Author info

Saidul Khan's picture

Based in Tura, Meghalaya

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

MSME residential training held at NEHU

11 Oct 2022 - 9:31am | AT News Shillong
Shillong: National Institute for MSME (ni-msme), Hyderabad is conducting a one week training programme on "MSME Innovative Scheme" for 28 MSME officers from various states of the country at NEHU...

Poor construction work of Dhudar Ali alleged

11 Nov 2013 - 5:16pm | SK Hasan
Nazira regional unit of All Assam Student Union is protesting against poor quality reconstruction of Dhudar Ali. Rs.17 crore reconstruction work of the historic Dhudar ali is going on. AASU Nazira...

DU greets Rahul with protest

24 Sep 2010 - 3:46am | editor
AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday visited Dibrugarh university. But only to be received with black flags.As soon as the icon of the country's youth Congress landed at the varsity...

Himanta hits back at Dutta

12 May 2014 - 8:33pm | AT News
Health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday lashed out at Anjan Dutta for waging war against a section minister.Talking to reporters in Guwahati, Dr Sarma said, “we have 78 MLAs with Tarun Gogoi...

Other Contents by Author

A faculty from North Eastern Hill University (Nehu) today made an endeavour to brand Meghalaya and other Northeastern states of India as an “unexplored tourist destination”.  Speaking as keynote speaker at the 13th International Conference on Business Management and Legal Studies at Bali, Indonesia assistant professor in the Department of Management Dr. Sunildro L.S. Akoijam enlightened the gathering on the success of India Tourism campaign – “Incredible India”.  Talking about the campaign, which has made its attempt to create awareness on tourism potential and behaviour change, Dr Akoijam presented a paper on Branding of Tourism Destination: Recent Trends and Strategies....
A modest crowd of young and elderly women today gathered at Chandmari playground here to embark on a mission to revive and restore the custodial rights of women in Meghalaya’s Garo hills.In matrilineal Garo society, the women as head of a particular community (clan) in a village enjoy rights over land and natural resources in an A’king land (community land/area). Head of a particular clan is given the title of a Nokma, the village head.Traditionally women are head of a village, while their husband were suppose to assist them but over the years things have changed and men are at the centre stage for taking decision related to village affairs.Mother’s Union, one of the oldest women’s...
It was a spectacular end for Dimchrang Festival 2016 as four sensational bands of Garo hills and Still Waters from Sikkim enthralled over 8000 plus crowd here yesterday evening. The evening mood was set with four local bands -- Titans, Ultimate Page, Quantum leap and Brighter than bright making the crowd go gaga with cover, original and Christmas numbers. The stage was on fire with the entry of Still Waters from Sikkim, which featured Abishek Gurung, finalist of a popular TV reality show. The well-known vocalist greeted the crowd, which saw a thunderous applause. In sync with this year’s theme -- “youth as change maker”, the vocalist was asked to interact with the youth during the...
The beautiful state of Meghalaya came alive at Betasing in South West Garo Hills Saturday with at least 32 troupes exhibiting their rich dance, music and heritage before a strong crowd of over 15,000 people. A power packed performance of dance and music displayed the collage of colours, rhythm and synchronization of music and songs. The performance showcased all major tribes and sub-tribes of the state, including Kuki, Biate, Ruga and Bodo. The electrifying performance pushed the adrenaline of the crowd to an extreme, as people were seen rejoicing and dancing. The theme song – Krimkro Krimkro dake hai  (Let us make music in unison) aptly demonstrated the unity of all tribes. The...
The tone for Christmas was set on a high note with the festival titled – Mistletoe jingle in the hills, which was held yesterday at Dikki Bandi Stadium here. This was one of-its-kind Christmas festival, which brought together choir groups from different denominations under a single platform. Renowned Nagaland based band – Alobo Naga and the band and Shillong’s Aroha choir group performed at the event, which swayed the crowd as they sang in praise for Jesus Christ. Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma and chief secretary Barkos Warjri attended the programme. The festival conceptualized by the department of arts and culture department and presented by district administration of West Garo...
A minor girl aged about 12 years was alleged molested by cops at Araimile locality in Tura, which has raised a huge hue and cry. The victims' family have filed an FIR, prompting the Superintendent of Police (SP) to arrest all the three accused.  The henious incident took place on December 29, when the victim along with her uncle were returning from a nearby market in an auto rickshaw. The police patrolling team stopped the auto rickshaw and abused her uncle on the pretext that he was a suspected cadre of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).  The incident occurred around 11:30 pm.  Eyewitness to the incident told that three police personnel were in a gypsy...
Samarjit Arengh (name changed), a youth working in a block in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district is worried. He fears retaliation by outfits operating in Garo Hills, as he has failed to listen to their diktat.  Nobody is being spared in Garo Hills region as rebel groups are looking for ransom - be it 'poor' or 'rich'. The modus operandi of these outfits are very simple - if one is not being able to pay. They ask the entire office to collect money and give them. Infact, outfits are negotiating on the amounts.  Government employees working in remote areas of the region are the worst sufferers. They don't have much option - it is like pay or you are under their scanner....
Christmas may be a religious celebration to mark the birthday of Jesus Christ but it is more than just a one day affair in Meghalaya's Garo Hills. The five district of Garo Hills remains soaked in merriment as people from all walks of life celebrated Christmas with solemn and gaiety.  For many, Christmas means light, colour, cakes, christmas tree and Santa. But for the Garos', it is beyond. There is an age old practice called the Song Kristan Dance, which means Christian Dance from the village.  "It is basically a dance form, which was celebrated since time immemorial by our forefathers, when they accepted Christ as their saviour", said Benjibosh D Sangma of Dainadubi,...
Maitrayee Bordoloi has received the prestigious DRS Sshield Corporate Award,2013 from Amity University, Noida for Excellence in Academics, Exta Curricular Activities. Bordoloi have passed BA LLB (Hons) from Amity University in 2013. She is currently working at Thomson Reuters as an Associate. She is the youngest daughter of Pratap Bordoloi and Dr. Ruma Bordoloi of Guwahati
The entire Garo Hills region is soaked in festivities. Market is full of colourful lights, glazing stars and other decorative items. The mood is set right for the advent of yet another eventful Christmas.People from different parts of Garo Hills are visiting markets in Tura to do their shopping. Tura Super Market is flooded with clothes and other items. Like many others, Dimre Sangma from Baghmara was seen buying the best of clothes and shoes available in Tura market. “I have purchased clothes, shoes for me and my relatives. Baghmara has less options, so we have come to Tura to get the best from here”, said Dimre Sangma.Manikram, a shop owner in Super Market said, “We are doing brisk...