A meeting in Surajpur District, held on September 6th, focused on reviewing the implementation and completion status of government schemes. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, Gram Panchayat Semrakhurd under Janpad Panchayat Pratapur received an allocation of 131 houses for the 2024-26 financial years. The Panchayat Secretary’s failure to submit Aadhaar consent for 22 beneficiaries’ housing approvals within the Awas Plus initiative, coupled with the slow progress of the 73 already-approved houses, raised concerns. This suggested that Sukhdev Prasad, the Panchayat Secretary, was not adequately inspecting housing and other construction projects, nor was he actively ensuring their completion. As a result, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin experienced a lack of the projected advancement.
Such actions by the Panchayat Secretary constituted gross negligence, indifference, and a lack of discipline, violating the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Service (Conduct) Rules, 1998, and the Chhattisgarh Panchayat (Powers and Actions of Secretary) Rules, 1999. Sukhdev Prasad, the Panchayat Secretary of Gram Panchayat Semrakhurd, Janpad Panchayat Pratapur, has been suspended with immediate effect under the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999, for the aforementioned failures. His headquarters during the suspension period will be the Janpad Panchayat Pratapur office. He will be entitled to a subsistence allowance during the suspension, as per the regulations.