Bribery Allegations Surface in PM Housing Scheme in Barkheda Kalan; Villagers Submit Memorandum

Grave Accusations Against Panchayat Officials

Residents of Barkheda Kalan village in the Chachoura development block of Guna district submitted a memorandum to the Collector during a public hearing on Tuesday. Villagers have leveled serious allegations of corruption, bribery, and misuse of power against Panchayat Secretary Suresh Meena and Employment Assistant Babulal Gurjar. They are demanding the immediate removal and transfer of the Panchayat Secretary.

The case highlights irregularities and corruption in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), preventing eligible beneficiaries from receiving their rightful benefits. The memorandum details how the Panchayat Secretary and Employment Assistant allegedly extorted ₹1500 each from multiple eligible beneficiaries, including Sumitra Lodha, under the guise of verifying their applications for the housing scheme. Despite paying the bribe, those who paid did not receive any benefits, causing significant discontent among the villagers and raising serious questions about transparency and accountability in the execution of government schemes.

Misuse of Authority and Falsified Records

Adding to the gravity of the situation, Suresh Meena, the Panchayat Secretary, who is originally a resident of Amritkhedi, is accused of fraudulently registering his wife, Radhe Bai, in the Barkheda Kalan Panchayat to approve a house under the PMAY. This alleged act constitutes a violation of rules and an abuse of a government scheme for personal gain.

Following the revelation of these allegations, PCO (Project Coordinator Office) Shivraj Singh Bhil clarified his role. He stated that his limited knowledge of computer operations led him to provide his ID and password to Panchayat Secretary Suresh Meena, assuming it would be used to assist with Panchayat tasks. However, the Secretary allegedly exploited this trust.

It is alleged that Suresh Meena misused Shivraj Singh Bhil's ID to remove eligible beneficiaries from the PMAY list and insert his wife, Radhe Bai's name, thereby approving a house for her through abuse of power. Villagers, including the Sarpanch and Panchs, have expressed strong resentment towards Suresh Meena's conduct, citing continuous corruption and irregularities that hinder public access to government schemes.

Demand for Investigation and Action

In light of these serious allegations, the villagers have demanded an impartial investigation and immediate action. They have submitted a memorandum, signed by Jitendra Lodha, Ramdhan, Govind, Kamlesh, Manoj, Rachna Bai, Dinesh, Kailash, Nirvesh Meena, and PCO Shivraj Singh, among others, to the Collector. Through this memorandum, they express their hope that the administration will recognize the seriousness of the matter and take appropriate action promptly, ensuring that such incidents are prevented in the future and government scheme benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.