The Kamtapuri Sangrami Samaj has sought an investigation into alleged irregularities under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Cooch Behar’s Mathabhanga subdivision, submitting a four-point memorandum at the district magistrate’s office on Friday.
The organisation, which represents members of the Kamtapuri, or Rajbanshi, community, said the memorandum was addressed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari and would be sent through the district magistrate. The programme was led by Kangsaraj Barman, the organisation’s president.
The housing-related demand concerns the alleged misuse of details belonging to around 450 prospective beneficiaries. Barman said some people had used the details to illegally obtain benefits under the government housing scheme. The organisation has called for an impartial investigation to establish whether the alleged irregularities occurred and to identify those responsible.
“If job card numbers have been misused, the matter should be thoroughly investigated and those responsible identified. The truth should emerge through an impartial investigation,” Barman said, according to the memorandum submitted by the organisation.
The demand places beneficiary verification and delivery of housing assistance at the centre of the group’s concerns. The organisation said government scheme benefits should reach genuine beneficiaries. The report does not include a response from the district administration, the state government or officials responsible for implementing the housing scheme in Mathabhanga.
The memorandum also called for the introduction of Kamtapuri as the medium of instruction in primary schools across the eight districts of north Bengal. The organisation sought the recruitment of teachers qualified to teach the language and said the move was necessary for recognition and promotion of Kamtapuri.
Barman said the demands were intended to improve the socio-economic conditions of disadvantaged communities and ensure impartial investigations into various allegations. Members of the association also sought employment opportunities for people they said had been affected by steps taken by the Left Front government against members of the community.
The fourth demand concerned action against those accused of atrocities against women. A member of the organisation said issues involving language, education, employment and women’s safety should not face further neglect.
The memorandum therefore combines a specific allegation about the administration of a public housing programme with wider demands concerning community recognition and access to public services. Any determination on the alleged misuse of beneficiary or job card details would depend on an official inquiry and examination of scheme records. The district administration’s next response was not reported.
