BSS stages demo over BPL card issue and other irregularities

Rourkela: Basti Surakhya Samiti (BSS), Rourkela, staged demonstration here today alleging irregularities by the Municipality authorities in providing BPL and PLO cards meant for poor people in slum areas. They have submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through ADM Rourkela.

Taking out a rally, the slum dwellers led by BSS president Biren Senapati demonstrated outside the Municipality office. Around 1000 families joined the rally.

As per the report submitted by BSS, they alleged that 28,000 BPL families have been deprived of basic facilities. According to the survey conducted by Rourkela Municipality in 2004 and Industrial Area survey 2006, 43,000 families were identified for BPL cards. However, in 1997 only 15,000 families were provided with BPL cards. Rest 28,000 families are awaiting for BPL cards for years together.

Calling a 12 hours protest by the BSS, the protesters alleged that when 28,000 families are still awaiting for BPL cards, recently government has allotted PLO cards for only 9000 families leaving aside the previously identified remaining 28,000 BPL card families. In the meantime Municipality conducted another survey for PLO card through the Councillors. No government officials were involved in the survey, they informed adding as a matter of fact the councilor whimsically selected the beneficiaries. Rampant corruption, favouritism and nepotism in the selection have been adopted, which have deprived the eligible beneficiaries, they alleged.

Stating on Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna (RGAY), they further informed that the Central government have introduced RGAY for slum people, giving residential house along with patta of the land since 2009-10. During last two years, Municipality could not complete its survey work to identify the beneficiaries. As a result of that the RGAY remains a non starter due to delay in survey work. Rourkela Municipality authorities give deaf ear and pay lip services to this project, they alleged.

Besides, these above mentioned important issues, Rourkela Municipality have utterly failed in providing the basic amenities to the slum people. Approach roads, drainage system, drinking water facilities and sanitary provisions including health care have been denied to the people although government has sufficient funds for these development works. Due to this lack of basic amenities slum people are prone to Malaria, Chickengunia, Dengu and other diseases, the agitators alleged.

BSS appealed the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to redress their following grievances such as all properly identified families under Rourkela Municipality and Industrial area be provided BPL/PLO cards forthwith, action to be taken against authorities involved in corruption and irregularities of distribution of BPL/PLO cards, steps to be taken to implement RGAY as soon as possible, uncalled demolitions of houses in slum area without providing Rajiv Awas to be stopped and approach roads with drainage provisions, drinking water and sanitation facilities, health care and other basic amenities be provided to slum people.