Corruption in toilet scheme alleged

Sircilla: The very purpose of construction of individual sanitary latrines under the Central Rural Sanitation Programme was not served in Gollapalli village of Yellareddypet mandal of Siricilla Assembly constituency due to the alleged corruption of local elected representatives.

But the village Sarpanch Nazi ruled out any irregularities in implementing the scheme. Notably the constituency is represented by IT Minister K T Rama Rao.

Under Swachh Bharat programme, the Centre sanctioned Rs 8,000 crore and the state government Rs 4,000 crore for the construction of individual toilets. A few came forward and constructed toilets but still waiting for the bills to be cleared.

They lamented that they have to visit the offices several times to clear the pending bills but of no use. After observing their plight, no one else was coming forward to use the scheme. The Minister, KTR, purchased materials on a large scale and asked the people’s representatives and officials to distribute them among the beneficiaries.

The beneficiaries were also interested since they don’t have to invest money for toilte construction. But the elected representatives joined hands with the officials and allegedly misusing the scheme for selfish purpose. Several such irregularities were detected in major panchayats of Yellareddypet, Venkatapur and Gollapalli of Yellareddypet mandal.

In Gollapalli, aged persons and helpless were chosen as beneficiaries. Lyagala Anasuya said that Sarpanch and ward member came to her house and asked her to construct a toilet since she was a beneficiary. They promised her to supply the material.

With the help of her husband and son, Anasuya dig a huge pit in front of her house. When she approached the Sarpanch for material, she was turned down stating that her name did not figure in beneficiaries'. The case of Raziya of the same village was no different.

She lives alone as her husband works in Mumbai and their two daughters were married off. She ekes out living by rolling beedis. As told by the Sarpanch she constructed a toilet, but the Sarpanch refused to clear her bills, stating that she was not a beneficiary.

Raziya was worried as she doesn’t know how to repay the loan taken for toilet construction with her meagre earnings through beedi rolling. Fate of a paralytic Paturi Sanjeeva Rao, Paturi Chiranjeevi and many others was the same.

Moved by the plight of poor villagers, the local youth obtained the list of beneficiaries under the RTI Act. This list revealed the names of about 30 beneficiaries, who were duped by the elected people’s representatives.

The village youth even complained to anti-corruption bureau, but of no use. Now the villagers were appealing to Minister KTR to respond to their plight. When contacted, village Sarpanch Nazim ruled out any irregularities and said allegations were being leveled against him purposefully.

He said, ‘285 toilets are sanctioned and building material is given to 180 beneficiaries. The beneficiaries have constructed toilets on their own and claiming the bills. The panchayat has to settle the bills amounting to Rs 20,000.’ The bills were in pending due to non-sanctioning of funds, he further added.

The Sarpanch explained that several people didn’t build toilets for want of space, while some others merely dug pits and claiming bills. Construction of a few toilets was in various phases and the beneficiaries were demanding clearing of the bills pending. He agreed that a few beneficiaries couldn’t take up toilet construction due to clerical errors in their names.

By: Gopalakrishna