Manoj Kumar (left) presents his petition to Patna district magistrate N Saravana Kumar at the janata durbar on Thursday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, May 30: Manoj Kumar (35) was denied a better life under Indira Awas Yojana scheme because he did not have a better half.

The bachelor from Bihta block had been running from pillar to post to benefit from the Centre’s housing scheme for the poor. When his two-year-long struggle yielded no result he filed an RTI query.

His query was replied to last September. He got a list of Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) beneficiaries. “My name was there but I was denied the benefit because, it said, I was unmarried.”

His friends suggested that he visit the collectorate.

Manoj, from Anandpur village, around 35km southwest of Patna, today approached district magistrate N. Saravana Kumar at his weekly durbar.

Manoj’s name figures on both the BPL and IAY lists. Even the district magistrate wondered why he was denied the benefits.

Manoj then told Saravana about the RTI reply. It left the latter flummoxed.

Nevertheless, Saravana first asked Manoj, albeit, in a lighter vein, “Why aren’t you getting married? It’s a good thing, you must get married.”

The district magistrate later told Manoj, more seriously, “There is no such rule to deny IAY benefits to somebody who is unmarried.”

Saravana called up Bihta block development officer Narendra Prasad and told him: “One Manoj Kumar has come to my durbar and is complaining about not getting IAY benefits because he is unmarried. He has brought his papers as well. There is no such rule, how can you deny him IAY? Solve this issue as soon as possible, better if the benefit is handed over to him at the next IAY camp on July 8.”

He then told Manoj: “You don’t worry. I have spoken to the Bihta BDO. You will get the scheme.”

Manoj, who lost both his parents a few years ago, told The Telegraph: “I am not educated, just a daily wager. I would never have come here unless dragged by my friend, Randhir Sharma. I’ve got to know that many people who already have a house are getting IAY benefits. My friends were convincing me to get married. But, thank god, I do not need to get married just for this scheme.”

He further said that whether or not he marries is nobody’s business. “It’s my life and I can live it the way I like.”

The district magistrate said: “Strict action would be taken against whoever denied Manoj the house on this (marriage) grounds. One just needs to have one’s name on the BPL list and no concrete house to avail of IAY scheme.”

The aim of IAY is to provide financial assistance to the rural poor living below poverty line (BPL) for construction of a house. Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs 70,000 is provided for construction of a house (Rs 75,000 if the house is in Maoist-affected areas).

Rural development minister Nitish Mishra said: “We are making a database of IAY beneficiaries from 1996 onwards. It should be ready within three months. The department will also upload names of beneficiaries on Government of India’s official website to maintain transparency.”