JAMMU: The State Vigilance Commission (SVC) on Monday directed the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) to register a case against a Block Development Officer (BDO) and other officials for allegedly extending undue benefits to some under the Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY).
The commission has asked the SVO to register a case on a complaint against the then BDO, Tral, presently posted as the Assistant Director (Handicrafts), Ramban and other officials of the Rural Development Department for allegedly extending undue benefits to some by releasing Rs 1.30 lakh in their favour under IAY, in violation of norms and procedures fixed for the purpose, an SVC spokesman said.
Earlier, taking cognizance of the complaint, the commission had sought a report from the Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD), Pulwama.
The complainants had alleged large-scale irregularities committed by officers/officials of the Rural Development Department as regards disbursement of funds under the Centrally-sponsored IAY scheme in Tral block of Pulwama district, in connivance with the panch and sarpanch (village heads) of the block, the spokesman said.
The report submitted by the ACD to the commission prima facie established the omissions and commissions on the part of the officials in distribution of funds earmarked for construction of houses under IAY, he added.
The report also revealed that the officials concerned, instead of releasing funds in favour of deserving homeless families, especially those in the BPL category, dishonestly released the same in favour of the panch and the sarpanch of the area, despite the knowledge that the beneficiaries were already in possession of own houses and were not entitled to any benefit under the scheme. The officials released Rs 1.30 lakh in their favour, thereby defeating the real spirit of the scheme and snatching the rights of the poor, the spokesman said. The local panchayat prepares the list of beneficiaries under any scheme which is then verified by the BDO for further action and in this case, the sarpanch and the panch had dishonestly included their names in the list, he added. Taking note of the “wilful negligence” of the BDO and other officials of the Rural Development Department, who were entrusted with utilising public money for the welfare of downtrodden families but instead, benefited those who did not deserve it, the commission ordered registration of a formal case so that those involved were identified and proceeded against as per law, the spokesman said.