Sopore – Scores of Panchs in Achabal area of North Kashmirs Rafiabad town staged a protest against the Sarpanch Altaf Ahmed Malik for swindling huge chunk of money under different Central-sponsored schemes. The protestors alleged that Sarpanch in league with some officials has provided undue benefits to his scores of relatives under Indira Awas yojna (IAY).
Pertinently, IAY is a social welfare programme to provide housing for the rural poor and under the scheme, financial assistance worth Rs.70000/- in plain areas and Rs.75000/- in high land area is provided for construction of houses. Protestors said that Sarpanch Altaf Ahmed has provided monetary benefits to his brother Ajaz Ahmed Malik, father Ghulam Mohammad Malki and brother-in-law Mushtaq Ahmed Malik.
Under IAY scheme it has come to light that Achabal Sarpanch for the construction of houses has allotted huge chunk of money to his relatives. It is surprising that these funds are exclusively reserved for the poor section of the society, one of the Panchs told CNS adding that the said Sarpanch could not do it all alone and he might have taken some of the officials into confidence.
Protestors demanded probe into the matter. It is worth to mention here that the said Sarpanch was thrashed by people few months back when it had come to fore that he had allegedly sold the abandoned school property to one of his blue-eyed contractors. (CNS)
