Jalpaiguri: A total of 7,481 names ve been excluded from the final beneficiary list under the Bangla Awas Yojana in Jalpaiguri district. Currently, 66,547 beneficiaries are confirmed to receive housing assistance, while the status of 7,337 individuals remains pending. Many of the pending names belong to migrant workers employed in other states.
On Wednesday, District Magistrate Shama Parveen held a two-hour meeting to finalise the list. In the first phase, 31,000 beneficiaries from the 66,547 will begin receiving the first installment for house construction starting in the third week of December.
The survey, conducted in two phases (2018-19 and 2020-21), was verified at the Panchayat level. The revised list was posted at block offices on November 26, with a week for filing complaints. During the meeting, Zilla Parishad Secretary Sajal Tamang, Additional Secretary Sudip Basu, Zilla Parishad Karmadhakshya Mahua Gope, Additional District Magistrate Priyadarshini Bhattacharya and other officials were present.
The final list includes beneficiaries from various blocks: Banarhat (1,302), Dhupguri (2,918), Jalpaiguri Sadar (9,772), Kranti (4,116), Malbazar (2,696), Meteli (1,664), Maynaguri (3,215), Nagrakata (1,597) and Rajganj (2,885).
Exclusions affected individuals who own houses, cars, or hold government positions. This includes certain local political leaders and Panchayat representatives.
District Magistrate Shama Parveen clarified: “The final list has been thoroughly checked and those who own houses, cars, or are employed have been removed. The first installment for house construction will be credited to the accounts of 31,000 beneficiaries in the first phase. The remaining beneficiaries will receive their installments at a later stage. The revised list will be posted at all BDO offices starting Thursday.”
Zilla Parishad Karmadhakshya Mahua Gope added: “Those with houses or cars, as identified in the survey, have been excluded. Confirmed beneficiaries will receive housing funds.”