BNRGSK programme: Dismal show in Odisha’s Koraput district

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Koraput, May 27:

Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra (BNRGSK) programme is yet to take off in 91 out of 226 gram panchayats of Odisha’s Koraput district.

Under the programme, launched five years ago,  a panchayat ghar was to come up in every panchayat and block headquarters, at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 25 lakh respectively, to function as a single window delivery system for providing information related to development work implemented at the block level.

Besides, the buildings were to be used by the local people for discussing issues related to their villages and panchayats.

However, out of the 229 gram panchayats, the buildings are at different stages of construction in 91 panchayats, while out of 14 blocks in the district only six have BNRGSK.

Sources said, although at the time of the launch of the programme, it was planned to cover all the panchayats within a period of three months, the programme has gone haywire in the district due to the indifference of the officials even after five years of its launch.

Sources alleged that more than 50 per cent of the 141 completed BNRGSK’s are lying unused. Some of the buildings have developed cracks and become a safe haven for anti-socials.

Koraput collector Yamini Sarangi said gram panchayat technical assistants have been asked to use the building as their office wherever it was needed,while adding,  a private bank has been allowed to function from the building at Nandapur block.

She said at some places people are not using the buildings reportedly because the centres were located outside the village area.