Bhubaneswar: Khurda Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra Thursday ordered a probe into the suicide of a youth allegedly over corruption in the allotment of a housing scheme under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY).
The probe order came after a video in which the youth, who committed suicide, was seen alleging that the block staff had asked him Rs 15,000 bribe to allot a house in his name under the PMAY, went viral.
In the video Laxmidhar Behera, the youth who committed suicide alleged that despite his several requests he was not allotted a house under PMAY. The body of Laxmidhar, was recovered Wednesday from Gahirdiha canal near Nirakarpur.
The Collector said investigation will be done as to who wanted bribe from Laxmidahar to allot a house under the PMAY.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmndra Pradhan Thursday visited the house of the victim and described the suicide of the youth as “state government-sponsored killing” and said the people are fed with rampant corruption.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik in a release alleged that the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government was promoting corruption in the name of development.
The Congress leader said the government was announcing schemes one after another only to promote corruption.
The OPCC president alleged that the government officials were not extending the schemes to the beneficiaries without PC (percent culture).
Ruling party members and elected representatives of the BJD are demanding bribe to provide PMAY houses and toilets to the needy people, he said. The government, Patnaik said, was providing the benefits of various welfare schemes to its party workers while the needy people are left out.
Even the government officers are involved in corruption. But no action is being taken against them; the Congress chief said adding it shows how sincere the Naveen Patnaik government is in fighting corruption.
He demanded the government to act immediately and give justice to the bereaved family.