Dashed to ground: From hopes of permanent roof to life under tarpaulin
DOZENS OF BENEFICIARIES IN MOGA LEFT HOMELESS AFTER RAZING THEIR KUTCHA HOUSES WITH NO SIGHT OF FUNDS TO BUILD A PUCCA STRUCTURE
MOGA Razing their kutcha houses in the hopes of building a permanent one with the help of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) has proved to be double whammy for dozens of beneficiaries in Moga.
With the funds from the Moga municipal corporation few and far between, the beneficiaries have been unable to finish construction of the new structure, while also losing their only shelter. When the scheme was launched in 2015, the civic body had identified 1,811 beneficiaries. Over six years later, only 28 have been able to realise their dream of a permanent roof.
Those who demolished their kutcha houses in anticipation of funds for reconstruction are now forced to either live in roofless houses, rented accommodations, relatives’ homes or even under tarpaulin sheets.
The scheme’s beneficiaries include people from the economically weaker section (EWS) and low-income group (LIG) who do not own any pucca house, either in their name or in the name of any member of their family. Shinderpal Singh, 40, of Basti Mohan Singh in Moga has been living under tarpaulin, with a cemented stove on the street for cooking, while he awaits funds to complete construction.
“After razing my old house, I had nowhere to go. I found an abandoned shop, but it had no boundary wall. So I covered it with tarpaulin. But we still have to cook on the street, as there is no space in the shop. We have no idea how long we’ll have to live like this,” said Shinderpal.
An MC official, requesting anonymity, said, “Out of 1,811 beneficiaries, 370 were found ineligible as they had already constructed houses on their own. Some are undertaking construction. Meanwhile, many have halted work as they are not getting funds from the civic body.”
Daljeet Singh, 50, said, “I am living under tarpaulin at a neighbour’s house. I had razed my old kutcha house as asked by the municipal corporation staff and started construction of a new house. But thereon, the instalments stopped.”
Amandeep Singh, 31, and his wife, Ravinder Kaur, are living at a relative’s house, while they complete the construction of their house through borrowed money. “We received only the first instalment of Rs 12,500 under the scheme. So, I had to a take a loan of Rs 70,000 to keep the work from stalling,” said Amandeep.
Eighty-year-old Pal Singh is also in the same boat. He, too, has been forced to rely on relatives for the past two months while awaiting funds.
MC commissioner Surinder Singh said, “A total of 58 employees are assigned to extend the benefit of the scheme to the beneficiaries. Payments totalling Rs 1 crore have been released in the last few months. In case of delay, the beneficiaries should approach the MC.”