Bengal forms team to look into harassment of ASHA workers

Amid complaints of corruption in allocation of houses under PM Awas Yojana in West Bengal, panchayat and ASHA workers have been facing major predicaments while conducting fresh surveys. The state panchayat department has formed a nine-member task force led by the panchayat secretary to monitor the situation.

Incidents of protest and road blockades have been reported in Bankura, Malda and other districts, where the villagers gheraoed block development offices (BDO) and blocked roads.

"Many ASHA workers have been detained inside the houses of the villagers during the survey by local people who have allegedly received houses under the scheme illegally," an ASHA worker complained.


The state government has ordered stringent action and arrest in case of harassment of ASHA workers.

BJP leadership in Bengal has alleged that there is severe corruption in the panchayat system with work not done properly under the at least 100 days of employment guarantee scheme MGNREGA and also in PM Awas Yojana.