Sajid Raina
Bandipora, Sep 9: Two families in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district have accused the administration of denying them benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme, despite meeting the eligibility criteria.
In Inderkoot village of Sumbal, one of the beneficiaries has taken to the streets in protest against the Town Planning Organisation J&K, alleging a seven-month delay in building permission. Mohammad Ibrahim Najar expressed his frustration, saying, “The person responsible for building permissions at the Town Planning Organisation is inexplicably delaying my building permission, despite my completion of all formalities and providing NOCs from relevant departments.”
He added, “While the government claims to provide quick services to combat corruption in departments, the situation here contradicts those claims. I appeal to the LG Admin to investigate this matter and address my grievances.”
Meanwhile, the Chief of the Town Planning Organisation has assured that he will investigate and resolve the matter.
Similarly, Shabir Ahmad Ganie, a specially-abled resident of Ahamshrief village in the district, has faced a similar ordeal. He had cherished his mud house for decades until a glimmer of hope emerged when he received 50,000 rupees in his bank account through a government housing scheme. This windfall brought him joy, as it meant fulfilling his dream of providing a comfortable home for his wife, two children, and elderly mother.
With unwavering determination, he began building the foundation of his new house, believing that his and his late father’s applications for the housing scheme had finally come to fruition. However, his happiness was short-lived when officials from the rural development department intervened.
A Village Level Worker (VLW) instructed him to dismantle his old house, promising that he could construct the new one once the old structure was removed. Ganie complied, withdrew the 50,000 rupees, and invested it in his dream house. To his dismay, he later learned that the money was intended for someone else in the same village, he said.
“Despite my bank account being linked with Aadhaar, I faced immense pressure to return the money. My wife, already frail due to my disability from birth, fainted and fractured her leg due to the stress,” he said.
He underscored his eligibility for the program, citing his late father’s efforts before his passing. Their old house, now in ruins, provided clear evidence of their need for a new one. The situation inflicted severe emotional distress on his family, leaving them without a house or the funds spent on its foundation.
Block Development Officer Shariq Ahmad attributed the issue to a potential computer error and assured that they were conducting a thorough investigation.
