In what could emerge as a major scam in government housing schemes for the economically weaker sections of the society, a Right to Information (RTI) application has revealed that the beneficiaries have not received the money allotted for them.

Several cases have come to light in which the money has been allotted in the name of the persons who have left the village long ago or have never applied for it. There is no information as to who have received this money.

An RTI application was filed by Nattubhai Patel, a local activist in Talod taluka of Sabarkantha district, seeking details of the government housing schemes for Talod taluka from the Taluka Development Officer (TDO) on June 26. When the TDO did not provide any information, he filed another appeal with the district panchayat office on August 10.

As per the details provided by the panchayat office, one Maniben Ranchhodbhai was given Rs 36,000 under the Indira Awas Yojana in 2005. The woman, however, denied having received any money from the government. She has now filed an affidavit to prove that she is right. In another case, Ranusinh Sansinh Jhala has said that he never received any money under any of the government schemes. The list says Jhala received Rs 40,000 under the scheme.

“Some of them are even dead while some of them had never applied for the same,” said Patel, who had filed the RTI with the TDO. “The information pertains to only one taluka. There are several talukas in the state. It hints at a major scam which needs to be investigated,” said Patel.

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