CUTTACK: Intensifying its drive against corruption in rural housing schemes, the vigilance directorate on Thursday launched dedicated phone numbers to receive complaints directly from people regarding any corruption related Biju Pacca Ghar Yojana ( BPGY ) and Pradhan Matri Awas Yojana (PMAY).Along with Vigilance headquarters at Cuttack, people can directly lodge their complaints at the six zonal offices of anti-corruption wing across the state. The phone numbers are Cuttack headquarters 0671-2305988 ,Bhubaneswar 0674-2397748,Berhampur 0680-2282300, Sambalpur 0663-2412115, Balasore 255005, Koraput 233330 and Cuttack Division 0671-2305682Vigilance director R P Sharma has directed all its officials to act on these complaints on a priority basis. "Checking corruption in the rural housing schemes, meant for poor people, is our top priority. All our officials have been strictly directed to take note of the complaints immediately and to initiate appropriate action in the matter," said Sharma.A senior vigilance official said a proper record will be maintained of the complaints received in each zone and necessary information will be disseminated to the concerned officers. Subsequently, our teams will lay traps to nab government employees or panchayat officials seeking bribe from complaints for allotting houses to them under BPGY and PMAY schemes. "Our teams will also probe into complaints like houses allotted to illegal beneficiaries, misappropriation of funds allotted under the rural housing schemes etc," said a senior official.Notably, the vigilance has launched a special drive against corruption in rural housing schemes since June 25, days after chief minister Naveen Patnaik stressed on abolishing percentage and bribe culture in welfare schemes at the Collectors conference.So far, vigilance has registered 37 cases related to graft in rural housing schemes while nine people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in such irregularities. Most of the arrested persons are panchayat extension officers. Investigation of 76 cases is in progress while 48 secret verifications are being conducted, said Sharma.He also claimed that after the special drive people have turned alert and cooperating with vigilance by providing crucial information to them related to corruption.

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