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Chhattisgarh PM JANMAN Housing Fraud: Two contractors have been booked in Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham district over an alleged scam involving taking money from nine tribal beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) housing scheme without building their houses. Officials said that the two contractors have allegedly defrauded ₹5.09 lakh in all.
Cases have been registered at the Chilphi and Taregaon Jungle Police Stations located in the Bodla Development Block against two contractors on complaint by the beneficiaries belonging to the Baiga tribal community which is categorised as particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG).
“The complainants allege that while collecting money for their house construction from the contractor they never completed their work,” said an official. In another complaint, the houses were found unbuilt even after approximately 18 month and yet no amount was returned.
These allegations gave rise to two separate FIRs against the contractors. Here are more details about both the cases.
1. Kumar Meravi accused of taking ₹3.20 lakh
An FIR has been registered against contractor Kumar Meravi at Chilphi police station on October 14. According to the complaint, he had allegedly collected ₹3.20 lakh from five beneficiaries of Rajadhar gram panchayat but failed to carry out the construction work.
The alleged amounts collected were:
The FIR was registered under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
2. Tumesh God accused of taking ₹1.89 lakh
In the second case, contractor Tumesh God was booked at Taregaon Jungle police station on October 13 following complaints from four beneficiaries in Amanara gram panchayat.
According to the reported complaints, the amounts were:
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The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) is a Central government initiative which aims at improving the living conditions of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Among these are essentials such as provision of permanent housing, access to drinking water, health care and education, better road connectivity, provision of electricity and job/livelihood opportunity.
A permanent house is one of the basic needs for people, especially tribes, who live in remote locations. Any allegation of diversion of funds or non-fulfilment of promise of providing houses would adversely impact the objective of the scheme.
Irregularities, negligence, and cheating related to housing scheme beneficiary cases will not be entertained, said Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma.
“Therefore, there shall be no compromise on ensuring that all the funds allocated for the house construction reaches its intended beneficiaries,” he said, stressing on giving topmost priority to families of particularly vulnerable tribal communities as per the state government’s policy.
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