IMPHAL, July 4: Maklang Gram Panchayat, pradhan Heisnam Subhaschandra and a ward member of Maklang Part II Ahongshabam Shyama have siphoned off funds under Indira Awaj Yojana meant for building houses for BPL families.
The allegation was made by a several beneficiaries of the scheme during a meet with media persons held at the residence of one of the beneficiaries.
Speaking to media persons, one of the beneficiaries Angoujamba Thoibi, 37 wife of Ashakumar said that she was selected as a beneficiary of the Indira Awaj Yojana in 2008-09.
She was given a sum of only Rs 5175 as starting amount and some tin sheets to be used in the construction of her house.
Since then the authorities have not provided her with anything, she told media persons.
When she called on the pradhan for the remaining amount under the yojana, the pradhan had informed her to first complete the construction of her house.
Her husband had submitted a written complain to the Executive Director DRDA on May 26 urging the concern authorities to look into the issue, she continued.
However, ward member Shyama came to her house on June 30 asking her why she had filed RTI for a paltry sum of Rs 170 and threatened her to withdraw her RTI application, even though she had not filed any RTI on the issue.
One Luker RTI Apunba Lup had submitted a RTI application seeking information on the beneficiaries of the Yojana, she said.
Meanwhile one Phijam (o) Ibecha told the media persons that she found her name on the beneficiaries list for 2007 without her own knowledge.
Afterwards when she went to the pradhan for her fund amounting to Rs 12000, the pradhan told her that the amount has been given to a militant outfit and further told her not to ask about the name of the militant outfit or about the amount, she said.
Another villager said that the pradhan had also called a meeting at the residence of the Maklang Part II ward member Ahongshabam Shyama this morning and took signatures and names of the job card holders of the MNREGS of the area.
He further announced that other than the account holders, no one even if the person has a job card will be allowed to work, the local added.