Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra (BNRGSK) programme appears to have failed to take off in 91 of the 226 gram panchayats in Odisha's tribal-dominated Koraput district.
Launched five years ago, a panchayat ghar was supposed to come up in panchayat and block headquarters at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 25 lakh respectively.
The panchayat ghar was to function as a single window for providing information related to development work implemented at the block level. Besides, people would also meet there and discuss issues related to their villages and panchayats.
But in 91 panchayats, the buildings are in different stages of construction.
Similarly, out of 14 blocks, only six have BNRGSK.
"At the time of its launch, the programme was supposed to cover all panchayats within three months. But after five years, the programme has gone haywire due to the apathy of the officials," Koraput-based social activist Sanjit Patnaik said.
More than 50 per cent of the 141 completed BNRGSK's are lying unused and the buildings have developed cracks and have become a safe haven for anti-socials, he claimed.
"Lying unused for several months, the BNRGSKs at Ralegada and Chandaka panchayats under Pottangi block have developed cracks. The administration should take immediate steps to use the buildings at the earliest," Ramesh Pangi, a Pottangi resident, said.
"We are trying to ensure that the buildings are used. The gram panchayat technical assistants have been asked to use the building as their office, if required. At Nandapur block, a private bank has been allowed to function from the building," Koraput district Collector Yamini Sarangi said.
"At a few places, the people are not using the buildings alleging that the centre lies outside the village," she said.
