8,500 application forms of ‘Orunodoi’ scheme taken by MLA Silchar from SMB, alleges Congress

Sept. 14: Around 8,500 application forms of ‘Orunodoi’ scheme was taken from Silchar Municipal Board by MLA Silchar, Dilip Kumar Paul. This was alleged by Sajal Banik, President of Silchar Town Block Congress Committee on Monday. He further alleged that the MLA has taken the application forms and is circulating the same among his party supporters and sympathisers. “As a result, many genuine poor beneficiaries will be deprived of this scheme,” added Mr. Banik.

Sajal Banik alleged that though the application form of ‘Orunodoi’ scheme is available online, yet a rumour has been spread by some vested groups of those in power that the application should only be made in the forms available offline which are printed in Bengali. He alleged that genuine beneficiaries in various wards of Silchar will get left out in this process.

Sajal Banik said, “Today when we went to the office of Silchar Municipality and came to know that 8,500 forms were taken by the local MLA. Further, we were informed that 1,500 application forms were kept to be sent to Silchar MP. The staff of Municipality denied that they do not have any form with them to be given to the beneficiaries as they have already given the majority forms to the local MLA. We strongly denounce such type of activities and will soon write to the Chief Minister seeking justice.”

Refuting the allegations, Nirendu Roy on behalf of Silchar MLA Dilip Kumar Paul said, “Our friends in the Congress are now baffled as all their evil ways of earning has now been stopped. We have got information that the former Congress Ward Commissioners are now photocopying the application forms and selling them to the beneficiaries. Assam govt has given certain guidelines which should be followed while filing up the forms. But violating all norms, Congress has involved in doing business with these forms. We from BJP has made the people in towns & villages about the ‘Orunodoi’ scheme. So this has angered the former Congress Ward Commissioners. We strongly denounce such attitude. Rather I urge upon the Congress workers to come forward and help the beneficiaries maintaining honesty.”

‘Orunodoi’ scheme initiative is an endeavor “to empower the women of the State and to provide financial support to the tune of Rs 830 to 19 lakh economically backward households in the State. For the purpose of this scheme, a “household” shall comprise the eldest primary bread earner (male), his wife, their dependent children, and their dependent relatives who “normally reside together and take their meals from a common kitchen/ common cooking. The adult female member of the household who will receive the money shall be an adult woman who is not less than 18 years of age. As per the guidelines, the distribution target of the ‘Orunodoi’ scheme shall be 15,000 beneficiaries per Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) and if the population of the LAC exceeds 2 lakh, then the target shall be 17,000 beneficiaries per LAC.