Beneficiaries don’t stay at Kalai Ashrayan project houses

Saud Taukder, Kalai (Joypurhat)

Beneficiaries don’t stay at Kalai Ashrayan project houses allocated for them. Most of the houses have been rented to others. It was alleged that the real homeless-landless people did not get the houses. On the other hand, the house renters are making a profit. As a result, the government’s image is being tarnished. The experts think that this situation has been created due to the lack of proper planning. Ashrayan Project Implementation and Monitoring Committee demands that the allotment of the houses against those who have land and houses should be canceled and the houses should be allotted in the name of real landless and homeless people.
While visiting the Marerpukur and Kantahar areas of the Matrai Union, it was found that beneficiaries and their relatives were living in 42 out of 62 houses. The tenants stored potatoes and paddy in five houses. The remaining 15 houses were locked. Shamim Hasan was allotted a house in the Kantahar Ashrayan Project. A local named Masum Mia rented that house and kept potatoes and rice. Masum Mia said, “Shamim Hasan lives in his own house. I am using this house in exchange for monthly rent. It is not my fault.”
Rabbi Hasan, who lives in the same Ashrayan project, said, “Out of 59 houses, the beneficiaries have not lived in 13 to 14 houses even for a day. Most of the people who have been allotted houses in their names have houses and land in their areas.”
Although Keramat Ali has a large house in Matrai Village, just half a kilometer south, he has been allotted a house in the Marerpukur Ashrayan project. He said, “Logic Chairman allotted the house to me. As there is no house for my son, I have given the house to him.” When asked why he does not live in that house, he said that it cannot be said now.
Beneficiary Ferdous Ali lives in his own house in another area. When asked why he does not stay in the allotted house, he said, “There is no electricity, no one else lives there. I am afraid of the darkness of the night, so I don’t stay.” Regarding house allotment, UP Chairman A N M Shawkat Habib Talukder Logic said, “Many times the upazila nirbahi officers do not take the cooperation of public representatives in the selection of beneficiaries. Because of this, the real landless and homeless cannot be selected.” When asked about the list, he said, “I also gave the names of several people but not all of them got it. All those who got houses are homeless.”
Kalai UNO Jannat Ara Thithi said that complaints have been found about this and some complaints are true. Cancellation of allotment and re-allotment is in progress.