In August, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai C. Patel handed over the keys for a house being built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Vidisha district.
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana provides assistance for urban housing for the poorer sections. Patel not only handed over the keys to new house owner Buddhram Adivasi on August 24, but also attended the housewarming ceremony and had lunch there.
Buddhram's house was selected for hosting the governor from a list of beneficiaries.
Local officials also installed a gate, fans and other appliances for the new house. However, Buddhram is complaining now that the officials demanded he pay Rs 14,000 for the gate. He claimed they also took the fans away.
Buddhram said, “The officers came... they said Governor sahib would eat lunch here. The new gate worth over Rs 14,000 was fixed... now they are asking for money I don't have. If I had known I would have to pay then I would not have got it installed,” NDTV reported on Sunday.
The Free Press Journal reported Buddhram and his family were still living in their mud-thatched house as the new building was not yet completed.
“I had asked him [village sarpanch] that I can’t afford such an expensive gate, I was given limited budget i.e. Rs 1.20 lakh by the government for the construction of the house under the scheme,” he told The Free Press Journal.
Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Minister Bhupendra Singh warned of action against officials who demanded the money from Buddhram.
He told NDTV, “This should not have happened... action will be taken. We have a tradition that when a guest comes, we decorate the house. But, as you have said, this is against the dignity of His excellency the governor. So, we will act.”
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Interestingly, a local official told The Free Press Journal Buddhram's complaint was baseless.
Yogesh, the chief executive officer of the jilla panchayat, told The Free Press Journal, “No one is demanding money from him. My team has assured him that he will not have to pay any bill against the construction works for his house.”
