Villager's endless battle for BPL status

Making efforts for 15 years/Application turned down by panchayat/Non-deserving taking benefits

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The panchayat allotted a house to an ex-serviceman of the village in gross violation of the rules. I had already started the process for the inclusion of his name on the lists. An FIR against the panchayat pradhan and secretary has already been lodged in the Baijnath police station for the misuse of public money.

Kulwant Singh,BDO

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, January 2

Niku Ram of Bhatoo Panjala Panchayat of Baijnath has been making efforts for the past 15 years to get the BPL or IRDP status.

He has approached the panchayat pardhan, the district authorities and even the local MLA for the financial assistance under various schemes and get his name included in BPL/IRDP or Antodaya list but in vain. He is unable to make both ends meet and his family gets food once a day.

His application for the allotment of home under “Prime Minister Awas Yojana” has also been turned down by the panchayat. He lives along with his wife and son in a jhuggi. Perhaps, his house is the only one in Baijnath that is without an electricity connection.

Niku Ram is qualified for the inclusion in the BPL category but the local panchayat has never put up his case before the gram sabha.

Asked why his name was not included on the BPL list, panchayat representatives of Bhattoo Panjala could not give the answer.

Villagers told The Tribune that several well-off persons in Bhatoo Panjala panchayat are availing of the benefits meant for BPL and IRDP in gross violation of the rules.

Kulwant Singh, Block Development Officer (BDO), Baijnath, when contacted by The Tribune admitted that injustice had been done with Niku Ram. He said the matter came to his notice when he conducted an inquiry against the panchayat pradhan into the embezzlement of public funds two months ago.

The BDO said the panchayat allotted a house to an ex-serviceman of the village in gross violation of the rules, deleting the name of Niku Ram as ex-servicemen were not covered under schemes meant for the poor. He said he had already started the process for the inclusion of his name in the lists.

“An FIR against the panchayat pradhan and secretary has already been lodged in the Baijnath police station for the misuse of public money. The matter has also been reported to senior officers” the BDO added.

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Caption:- A small hut where Niku Ram lives with his wife and son- Ravinder Sood