Hundreds of ASHA workers engaged in scrutinising applications for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Nadia’s Bethuadahari want to be taken off the job, citing threats and even attacks on them by some people who fear their names would be struck off the PMAY beneficiary list.
To press their demand, the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) blocked NH12 for about one hour in Bethuadahari on Monday afternoon.
ASHA workers alleged that they were conducting the ground-level survey to identify deserving beneficiaries according to the Centre’s guidelines but those who feared they would not meet the grade were issuing threats and even attacking them for the fear of getting their names struck off the list.
Even deserving candidates left out of the list often attack ASHA workers holding them responsible for the omission, they alleged.
Sulagna Burman, an ASHA worker allegedly assaulted by some villagers, said, “The list prepared by the local administration is erroneous and many persons who do not deserve houses under the PMAY have been fraudulently incorporated in the list.”
Echoing Burman, another ASHA worker Parveen Biwi said: “It was shocking to find that names of deserving persons have been dropped. These people are assuming that we are to blame for the deletion and they have attacked us at several places under 15 gram panchayats in Nakashipara block.”
Blocking NH2 and demonstrating in front of the Nakashipara block development office, ASHA workers demanded the cancellation of the “illegal” beneficiary list. They also wanted to withdraw from the survey job.
The angry workers blocked the road for over an hour from 1pm and lifted the agitation only after police officials assured them to take up the matter with the district administration.
Amid complaints of largescale corruption leading to fraudulent entries of illegal beneficiaries in the PMAY, the state panchayat department has formed a nine-member task force to monitor the situation. The state government has also ordered strong action in case any harassment of ASHA workers is reported.
But little has changed on the ground so far, an ASHA worker, who participated in the protest, said.
Speaking to The Telegraph, a senior official of the Nadia district administration said that the ASHA workers bearing the brunt of villagers’ resentment had become a common problem in many districts.
“There are some errors in the PMAY beneficiary list and those are being rectified. No deserving applicant will be denied the benefits under the PMAY. At the same time, we have tagged police to escort the survey team and have also advised ASHA workers to seek our help in case of any problem,” he said.