In April 2013 a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India showed that the funds provided to the Government of Odisha for the implementation of the Indira Awas Yojana were slashed by 223.95 Crores.
The reasons for this reduction are the irregularities in the implementation of the scheme and several instances of malpractice and corruption at the block level. Community Correspondent Anupama brings evidence of one such incident in Kujang block, Jagatsinghpur District Odisha.
In May 2013, 300 bags of cement were delivered to the block office for the purpose of being distributed to families living below poverty line. On paper however, the block office authorities claim they have received only 17 bags. The others wasted away in the rain or were siphoned off. Either way, those who were meant to receive the cement, did not.
Rasmi Ranjan, a local journalist investigated the matter when he heard about this gross wastage. He talked to the Block Development Officer who had no answers for him. He was promised an investigation by the District Collector but nothing came of that.
Call to Action: Please call the District Collector, Satya Kumar Mallick on 9437239444 and ask him to investigate into and stop the squandering public funds.
The Student Teacher Ratio and School Area needs improvement
In this video of UPS Manwan Awoora school, Kupwara, Kashmir, the community correspondent Pir Azhar shows us that there are nine classes for 250 students, and due to lack of space, the lower primary classes are held outside in the open. Also the school has only 7 teachers.