Tauseef Ahmad
BANDIPORA, Mar 3: The residents of Sumlar village in Arin block of Bandipora district in north Kashmir have accused the rural development department of failing to provide the benefits of constructing household toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission. They alleged that only a few people who are near and dear to PRI members received benefits, while poor people are suffering.
Residents also claimed that around 25 washrooms were constructed in the high school ground, affecting sports activities for students. They said that only a few of the washrooms are in use, and they have been constructed in every corner of the ground, making them inconvenient for students.
The locals appealed to the District Administration Bandipora to investigate the matter and ensure that government schemes are implemented fairly. When contacted, the Block Development Officer Arin said he would verify the situation on the ground and take appropriate action against the Rural Development Department if necessary.
Speaking with the Kashmir Despatch, locals alleged favoritism by Panchayat Raj Institution members in several government schemes in Sumlar panchayat.
“Street lights had been installed in the lawns of relatives of PRI. Nobody cares for the poor population,” locals alleged.
“Our co-curricular activities get affected by these washrooms as we did not have a ground facility in our school,” a local student said.
“Only four washrooms is functional in school which makes no sense of constructing 20 other washrooms. We are depriving these facilities in our homes. Nobody cares for our sufferings.”
“It seems the washrooms had only been constructed to draw money from government accounts. We were not given any monetary assistance for constructing toilets under SBM,” said one of the local resident while talking to Kashmir Despatch, who wished not to disclose his name.
Meanwhile when contacted, Block Development Officer Arin, said that he will verify first on ground and if anything found wrong, action will be taken against the culprits.
