In the Panchayat Minister’s constituency, funds in name of dead build CPM ‘clubhouse’

In West Bengal’s minister for Panchayat & Rural Development Surjya Kanta Mishra’s constituency, funds under the Indira Awaas Yojana were diverted for local clubs that also double as CPM offices. The official reason: the beneficairies passed away.

At Kunarpur Gram Panchayat under Narayangarh constituency of West Midnapur, official records show that villagers Khudibala Rana and Jatadhari Mandi got Rs 20,000 each under the Indira Awaas Yojana to build houses.

By the time IAY money was allotted two years ago, Mandi had passed away leaving behind no survivors. As for Rana, the money was sanctioned when she was alive and the local CPM admits they got her a house built on private land instead of government land where she lived — a violation of the IAY guidelines — and when she died, the party took over the house. Rana, too, had no survivors.

So Sidhu Kanhu Club, a two-room structure with an asbestos roof, has come up in Nandakishorepur village with the money sanctioned for Mandi. In the next village, Madhavpur, the Madhavpur club is run by son of CPM local committee member Narayan Bera. Official records show that money for building the club was sanctioned in the name of Rana.

The secretary of the Konarpur Gram Panchayat, Sudhanshu Sekhar Sahu, admitted that the panchayat was aware of the fact that two club houses had come up on land not belonging to the beneficiaries but using the funds meant for the two BPL villagers.

“We know this but our hands are tied,” said Sahu. “When elected panchayat members put pressure on us, we have no option.”

“I have not sanctioned the funds,” Minister Mishra said, “If you have seen anything wrong and any club is running in a dwelling built with IAY funds, I will read this in your paper and will enquire and take action.”

The Sunday Express also found that IAY funds have been sanctioned even for villagers above the poverty line (APL), as noted in the Accountant General’s report.

For example, in Madhabchak village under the same gram panchayat, Ila Maity and Subol Maity, an APL couple, secured funds from the IAY and upgraded their hut. When asked, Ila Maity furnished an APL card and said: “Kalipada Bhuinya helped me get the money.”

Kalipada Bhuinya turned out to be a CPM party member who promised funding from the IAY in return for a commission. Bhuinya could not be traced and was said to have disappeared after collecting fees from many villagers with the promise of funding. Samir Barik and Mantu Patar, are two such villagers who gave Bhuinya some money but are yet to see their grants.

A member of the CPM’s Madhabchak branch, Haripada Maity, admitted that Bhuinya has taken money from many people and disappeared.

“He took the money for himself, not for giving the party,” he said.