Ghatshila, Jharkhand | CRI
Serious irregularities have come to light in the implementation of the government housing scheme in Bada Kursi and Baghudhiya panchayats of Ghatshila block, Jharkhand, where members of the primitive tribal Sabar community allege that they have been deprived of permanent houses despite being sanctioned benefits under the scheme.
The Sabar community, classified as one of Jharkhand’s eight Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), primarily resides in the forested hilly regions of East Singhbhum district. Traditionally dependent on forests for their survival, the community has lived for generations in makeshift huts made of sticks and thatch. In recent decades, many Sabar families have begun settling in small hamlets located on the fringes of larger villages.
According to the affected families, instead of receiving pucca houses, middlemen and alleged fake contractors misappropriated the first installment of funds released in the beneficiaries’ names, leaving construction incomplete or not started at all.
Mogli Sabar, a resident of Gotiya Sabar Basti, said that although his house was sanctioned under the scheme, construction has remained completely stalled for the past one year. He stated that no further work was carried out after the initial stage, forcing his family to continue living without a permanent shelter.
In another case, Ritu Sabar of Narsinghpur Jod alleged that a contractor took ₹30,000 from her for the construction of her house and later disappeared. She said that neither the house was constructed nor was the money returned, leaving her family in a vulnerable situation.
The affected families say the issue is not limited to financial loss alone but is also linked to their dignity and safety, as they continue to live in temporary and unsafe conditions despite government schemes meant for their welfare.
Residents allege that these irregularities took place in the presence of the administration, but no timely action was initiated. The matter gained wider attention only after videos related to the issue went viral on social media.
The situation has raised serious questions about whether the affected Sabar families will receive their rightful benefits, or whether the housing scheme will once again remain confined to paperwork.
As of the filing of this report, no official response has been issued by the administration.
