AGARTALA, April 2 (TIWN): In what can be termed as a perfect case of misappropriation of Government benefits, a Government employee has succeeded in grabing benefits of two centrally sponsored schemes here at Ward No 5 under Agartala Municipalty Corporation. Ranjit Raha also known as “Phulan” in the locality has been bestowed with two benefits under two different schemes of the Central Government. The locals allege that due to his proximity with the local councillor. Bidhumohan Rudrapaul of Ward No. 5 of AMC he was given a net house and the cash and kind benefits associated with it.

The scheme under National Horticulture Mission which amounts to assistance of Rs. 3 lakh per unit is meant for the poor farmers to earn more by cultivating high value commercial flower so that the economic condition of the farmer is improved. The benefits which should actually have gone to a needy farmer has gone to a Government employee who has no need of it.

The locals further allege that the councillor also favoured  Ranjit by providing him with a re-excavation work under  the TWEP programme invoving 105 Mandays. The work for the re-excavation programme is still undergoing whereby the fishery pond of Ranjit Raha is excavated deeper.

“Mr. Raha who works as a teacher in the West Noabadi Primary School  within 2 km radius of his house has been enjoying all the benefits from the local councillor in cash and  kind whenever the opportunity comes, alleged one of the locals with condition of anonimity.

The local people allege that the councillor is providing him with such benefits as he in return gets some share from the land selling racquet run by the Govt. teac her cum land mafia in the locality. But nobody in the locality has the courage to question the councillor as he holds the power to provide any benefit under different scheme of the government. Demanding his anonimity, one of the locals alleged that Mr. Raha, who holds a position in the local CPI(M) unit  decides who should get what benefit in the locality.

It may be mentioned here that the misutilisation of MGNREGA funds and other centrally sponsored schemes’ fund is a common complaint against the ruling CPI(M) party run panchayts and village panchayts  raised by the opposition parties of the state.