Kapai, a saga of neglect and Govt apathy

BPL families await benefits of Centrally Sponsored Schemes

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug 05: The poor people of the state, especially Below Poverty Line (BPL) and backward class families are the worst victims of Government apathy and neglect. Village Kapai falling under the Panchayat of Sarai and Bharatgarh in Samba Block is live example of this neglect. Many of the mud houses have collapsed in ongoing Monsoon but compensation is yet to be paid.

There are around 300 households in the village out of whom majority are BPL and surviving on meager resources. The poor people are bereft of all the Central Government sponsored welfare schemes likes MNREGA and IAY. Though, some of the poor villagers have been given Job Cards under MNREGA schemes but, neither job was given to them nor any work was allotted to villagers.

Som Nath, a native of Kapai while narrating the woes of poor people said, “It seems that village is not a part of developing state. Most of the inhabitants are living miserable life. Neither there is provision of water supply nor is power supplied properly. None has benefitted from Indira Awas Yojna and MNREGA in the village. We are still living in 50s and been the victim of neglect.

Panch of the village, Bodh Raj blamed the Government for backwardness of the Kapai villagers. He explained that none from the side of authorities visited Kapai to assess the loss caused due to rains while the affected people were forced to live miserable life. He alleged that no work had been allotted to MNREGA Job Card holders. The BDO has never bothered to visit the village to assess the state of centrally sponsored schemes, he said.

When contacted, BDO Samba Charanjit Singh while claiming innocence said it was not his job to allot work to MNREGA Job Card holders and people shall approach their respective Gram Sewaks. He further said that villagers should ask District Commissioner to look into the damages caused due to rains. Refuting the allegations of Panch, the BDO claimed that he visits all the villages on periodic basis.