WORLD BANK GRANT FOR TOILETS: Villagers ‘forced’ to sign blank cheques

WORLD BANK GRANT FOR TOILETS

Villagers ‘forced’ to sign blank cheques

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lambi, February 2

Throwing norms to the wind, leaders of the ruling coalition in CM’s home turf Lambi are allegedly taking four blank cheques from villagers to construct toilets in their houses under a World Bank project.

Villagers allege they are being forced by sarpanches and other leaders to give four blank cheques to get the benefit of this scheme, which is jointly funded by the Centre and World Bank.

Sources say: “As per the Centre’s instructions, the toilet has to be built by the beneficiary and a sum of Rs 15,000 will be deposited in his account in two instalments. But in waterlogging-hit areas, the cost of toilets was higher and a proposal was sent to increase the amount to Rs 28,400, which is yet to get approval. In such a situation, the construction work was getting delayed, thus the assistance of sarpanches and other politicians was sought. They have now taken initiative to construct toilets and withdraw the amount later from the bank account of beneficiaries.”

Recently a senior official in the district administration visited some villages when some residents of Badal village alleged that they were being told to give blank cheques, but no action was initiated.

Gursewak Singh, a panchayat member of Bodiwala Kharak Singh village, alleged: “There are nearly 15 families who have been deprived of the benefit as they refused to give cheques.”

Baljit Singh, Junior Engineer, Malout, said: “People are voluntarily approaching the leaders in their villages to make toilets in their houses. The amount has to come in the account of beneficiary and he/she can make it own.”

Courtesy: The Tribune