Says beneficiary list has fake names
SHILLONG: Allegations have come to the fore that villagers of Klew in Ri Bhoi did not receive benefits under the Total Sanitation Campaign scheme.
CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing in her FIR lodged with Khapmara Police Outpost in Umroi on Tuesday said the reply to the RTI query, which she had submitted in the Block Development Office at Umsning, revealed that one Pholning Makdoh, now Sordar Raid Kyrdem and then headman of Klew, had received Rs 1,47,960 for the Total Sanitation Campaign scheme, which was meant for construction of toilets for 2010-2011 for as many as 137 beneficiaries.
“Out of these beneficiaries, I have been informed by one Lung Lawai of Upper Klew that he had not received the benefit of the scheme,” Kharshiing said in the FIR. According to Lawai and others who met Kharshiing, there are many others who had not received the benefits of the scheme.
The deprived villagers include Kjip Khriam, who recently expired, Deibasshon Tangsang, Prolet Nongrum, Blassius Nongrum, Hestina Tangsang and Drik Mukhim among others.
Kharshiing alleged that there are wrong entry of names like Salin Lawai, Bren Khriam and Thril Lawai, but in reality these persons do not exist.
“There may be many others who are scared to reveal that they had not received the benefits,” Kharshiing said, adding that this is a case of cheating with an intention to steal the fund meant for the rural poor.
Kharshiing has asked the police to conduct an investigation as to how much money was diverted and the whereabouts of Salin Lawai, Bren Khriam and Thril Lawai, who were wrongly included in the beneficiary list.
“There is a need to book all those who are responsible as per law for cheating and stealing, so that such incidents will not recur in future and if there is any political interference or pressure, those people too should be booked as per law for abetment and criminal intention to cheat and steal together with the perpetrators,” Kharshiing said.