In South Kashmir’s Pampore town people are awaiting payments under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY). To finish their house construction, around 28 people are awaiting payments. The funds for the same have been released already rather two months ago by the concerned district development office, still beneficiaries are awaiting payments.
Around 28 people who applied for funds last year are waiting for payment worth Rs 16 lakhs. The Pampore Municipal Committee expects to release funds in the next two weeks for all of the beneficiaries who are at various stages of construction.
An official said that local elected representative unnecessarily wants to re-verify all of the cases that have already been verified by a government district-level committee. He further added that funds are available for distribution. Official said that the cases have been passed after checking all the parameters, which range from annual income to land ownership and there are a fewer chances of misappropriation.
A beneficiary said that when their house was brought down for reconstruction, in beginning they went on rent. “We had to move into a shed on the construction site because we could not pay the rent,” a beneficiary said. She further added that they had thought that PMAY would provide them help, but the delay in payment has made it even more inconvenient.
She further grieved that they have applied for a loan and move in before the winter and even they cannot afford school textbooks or house construction because they have not been paid during the lockdown.
It is pertinent to mention that out of 135 beneficiaries, 75 cases were approved by the State level monitoring and sanctioning committee and the Central level appraisal committee in Pampore. Executive Officer of the Pampore Municipality Committee, Iqbal Ahmad said that the funds would be disbursed soon and in few days, the money will be released.
