Government admits irreguarlities in IAY and BPL schemes

Patna, Mar 06 (UNI) The Bihar government today admitted irregularities committed in selection of beneficiaries for Indira Awas Yojna and also for schemes meant for members living below the poverty line during the previous regime.

Replying to a debate on the budgetary demands of his department worth more than Rs 852.22 crore in the state assembly, Rural Develoment Minister Vaidyanath Prasad Mahto said the vigilance inquiry had been ordered to probe the said irregularities.

He said 44 per cent of the people were living below the poverty line and the government was committed to bringing down the per centage.

Mr Mahto said largescale migration of labourers to other states was also a matter of concern and alleged that opium was being added to their tea in certain states, incluing Haryana and Punjab, for increasing their working hours.

Expressing his displeasure over the Centre's refusal to cover all districts of Bihar under National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, the Minister said the government had already distributed large number of job cards under the Mukhya Mantri Gramin Rojgar Yojna. He reiterated that unemployment allowance would be paid if people failed to get employement under the said programme.

Mr Mahto said people would be brought under the BPL only after their applications were duly certified by Deputy Development Commissioners and Block Development Officers.

He said meetings of Gram Sabhas would be now videographed and proceedings of meetings would also be recorded and submitted to the concerned authorities. He assured that work on half finished IAY houses would be completed soon.

Later, the house passed the budgetary demands of the rural development department by voice vote and also rejected the cut motion moved by RJD member Jagtanand Singh.

UNI DH KK RD 1806