Dimapur, July 1 (EMN): The Nagaland unit of the Janata Dal United (JD-U) has issued a statement noting reports about money being demanded from beneficiaries of the housing scheme, Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna (PMAY).
In fact, even photographers who are responsible for providing evidence of ongoing and completed construction of houses by beneficiaries are demanding money for the photography, the party stated.
The JD-U has demanded from the authorities an independent investigation into the reports. The party has assured the authorities that it will be monitoring implementation of said scheme in the state.
The media and publicity cell of the party issued a press release on Monday.
‘The Janata Dal United, Nagaland, while appreciating the noble scheme, the Prime Minister Awas Yojna for both urban poor and rural areas launched in June 2015 under the initiative of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, would like to caution the department in concern to implement the programme judiciously,’ the party stated.
The JDU has received reports that cut-money is being taken and demanded randomly from the beneficiaries. It is learnt that even the photographers responsible for providence the evidence of the ongoing and completed construction of the houses by the beneficiaries are demanding money for the photography.
Moreover, there are reports that genuine persons are being deprived of the benefits.”
The JD-U has urged the authority in concern to set up an independent enquiry committee to delve into the authenticity of the reports and 'demands' reportedly being made on the beneficiaries.
“Moreover, the committee must also conduct any enquiry on whether the said scheme is reaching the actual genuine targeted people or it’s being siphoned off by middle men in the name of bogus persons as well as other irregularities that might be taking place at the very nose of the implementing department.”
Further, the JD-U urged beneficiaries not to tolerate any demands for ‘cut-money’ but to report such matters to the party through the mobile numbers 9436013273 and 8837482416.
“The JDU also warns those persons who have taken the cut-money to either return the money or facing legal consequences,” the press release added.