Imphal, June 20 2009: Acting on a contempt petition, Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench has today issued notice to Executive Director of District Rural Development Agency, Imphal East District, who is the respondent.

A single bench of Justice Maibam Bijoykumar Singh issued the notice following a contempt petition filed by one Moirangthem Ongbi Kamala Devi of Uchekon Takhok Mapal Awang, Imphal East District for non-disposal of a representation filed by her on March 9 2009 as per direction issued by the court, according to a statement issued by director of Human Rights Law Network Meihoubam Rakesh.

The notice is returnable within four days.

The petitioner contended that on April 27, 2009 she had filed a writ petition before the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench and the same was disposed of on April, 2009 thereby directing the respondent the Executive Director of District Rural Development Agency of Imohal East District to dispose of a representation dated 9th March, 2009 filed by the petitioner within a month with a reasoned order after giving opportunity of personal hearing of the petitioner.

In the said representation, the petitioner had stated that he is one of the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) beneficiary for construction of new houses.

However, the Pradhan of Uchekon Nongpok Gram Panchayat had tried to obtain her signature on a blank Actual Payee Receipt (APR) without payment.

The said Pradhan had also disclosed that she would not get the actual amount of money as some percentage of the said amount is going to be deducted as his share.

As such she had requested the respondent to release financial assistance under IAY in the form of account payee Demand Draft or Banker's cheque of personal cheque drawn in her favour.

Further in response to the Court's direction, the petitioner had communicated the judgement and order dated 30th April, 2009 along with copy of the writ petition to the respondent.

However, the respondent has wilfully dishonoured the direction of the court by not disposing of the said representation of the petitioner as per direction issued.

Instead of complying the court's direction it its true spirit and letter, the respondent issued an order on May 11, 2009 directing the Block Development Officer of Imphal East-II and the Pradhan of Uchekon Nongpok Gram Panchayat to release the necessary payment to the petitioner within a week time and submit a compliance report to him on May 22, 2009 .

However, no financial assistance has been released to the petitioner till date without assigning any reason.

It may be noted here that IAY was implemented with effect from January 1996 through all the nine District Rural Development Agencies in the State of Manipur.

Its aim is to provide financial assistance to the rural poor living Below Poverty Line (BPL) for construction of a house and upgradation of existing one.

The funding of IAY is shared between the Centre and the State in the ratio of 75: 25.On the basis of allocations made and targets fixed, the District Rural Development Agencies decide the number of houses to be constructed/ upgraded Panchayat wise under IAY during a particular financial year.

Consequently, on August 31, 2008, the Gram Sabha of Uchekon Nongpok Gram Panchayat was convened and the petitioner was selected as one of the beneficiaries for the year 2008-09 .

The financial assistance provided for new construction is Rs 35,000 per unit for the plain areas and Rs 38,500 for the hill/difficulty area while the assistance for upgradation of unserviceable Kutcha house to Pucca/semi Pucca house is Rs 15,000 .

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