Panchayat official accused of getting Ashraya site allotted in wife’s name

HASSAN: A panchayat development officer (PDO) has been accused of getting a Ashraya site, meant for poor and homeless people, allotted in the name of his wife, in Sakleshpur taluk.

Sangamesh, the PDO of Kyamanahalli Gram Panchayat and also in-charge PDO at Bage Gram Panchayat, allegedly got a site allotted in the same of his wife Sudha on Survey No. 15 in Bage village when 120 sites were distributed to the poor during 2013-14. Sangamesh secretary at the gram panchayat at that time. He has also got the possession certificate and khata for the site.

Sangamesh and his wife Sudha.

Gram Panchayat member Charles, who produced the documents at a press conference, said, “There is huge irregularities in allotting sites. These sites were meant to be distributed to poor and homeless women as per government orders, but it has been given to unmarried men. There are at least 15-20 such instances. Sangamesh created the khata certificates himself and the possession certificates have fake signatures of the tahlisdar”.

He has also submitted all the documents to the zilla panchayat CEO along wth a complaint, but so far, no action has been taken, he alleged.