Bhubaneswar: Following instructions of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the state government took action against 258 persons including government officials for allegedly taking percentage commission (PC) in the rural housing schemes.
In a written reply in the Assembly, panchayati raj minister Pradeep Maharathy Tuesday said punitive measures have been taken against 258 officials and non-officials of 21 districts for collecting PC in the rural housing schemes.
Actions as varied as suspension, show cause notice, vigilance inquiry, holding of salary and disengagement from service has been taken against lower level officials like panchayat executive officers, gram rozgar sevaks, village level workers and junior engineers, the minister said.
Eleven officials have been suspended in Nuapada district while show cause notices have been slapped on 66 officials for their alleged involvement in corruption in the same district.
During the collectors’ conference in June, the Chief Minister had directed the collectors to end PC culture at block and other lower level offices. The panchayati raj department had asked the district collectors to take stringent action against erring officials.
Chief secretary AP Padhi, who heads an oversight committee to prevent corruption in government offices, also emphasized zero corruption especially in execution of rural housing schemes, which includes Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Grameen), Indira Awaas Yojana, Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and Nirman Shramik Pucca Ghar Yojana.
The state vigilance department has set up seven helpline numbers to receive complaints from people on corruption.
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