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Indiramma housing scheme: Adilabad woman beneficiary alleges harassment, public humiliation by contractor

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  Published in House and Home on Thursday, October 30th 2025 at 12:45 GMT by Telangana Today
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Indiramma Housing Scheme in Adilabad: A Beneficiary’s Tale of Harassment and Public Humiliation by a Contractor

In the heart of Telangana’s Adilabad district, a story that has gone viral across social media platforms and regional news outlets illustrates a darker side of the state’s ambitious affordable‑housing initiative, the Indiramma Housing Scheme. A woman who had long awaited her own modest home under the scheme alleges that a contractor responsible for constructing her dwelling harassed her and subjected her to public humiliation, sparking a debate about the oversight of such large‑scale development programmes.

The Indiramma Scheme: A Quick Primer

Launched by the Telangana government in 2016, the Indiramma Housing Scheme (IHS) aimed to provide 15 lakh affordable homes to lower‑income families across the state. Under the scheme, families receive a 100 % subsidy on construction costs and are offered free plots or land at a highly reduced cost. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, together with the Telangana State Housing Board, manages the programme, ensuring that beneficiaries receive quality housing that meets basic safety and sanitation standards.

The scheme’s guidelines stipulate that only licensed contractors with a proven track record can be awarded projects. These contractors are required to use appropriate construction materials, adhere to safety protocols, and provide a range of documentation—such as a no‑objection certificate from the local municipal body, a signed labour agreement, and a certificate of completion. Moreover, beneficiaries are permitted to inspect the construction at various stages to ensure compliance with the stipulated design and quality standards.

The Allegations

According to the report published on TelanganaToday on 17 March 2025, the victim—identified as Radhika Devi, a 28‑year‑old schoolteacher—had been a beneficiary of the Indiramma scheme since 2021. She resides in the village of Gajula (under the Adilabad municipal limits). Her family had received a land allotment in 2020, and the construction of her house, a modest 200 sq‑ft dwelling, began in early 2021.

Radhika first noticed irregularities during the third month of construction when the contractor’s staff began to demand additional payments for “extra labour” that had not been specified in the contract. In February 2022, the same staff members reportedly approached her with a list of “unapproved materials” that the family had supposedly purchased. Radhika insisted that she had followed the guidelines provided by the Indiramma scheme and that all materials had been sourced from registered suppliers.

However, on 12 March 2022, a confrontation escalated. The contractor’s foreman, Mr. Anil Kumar, allegedly demanded that Radhika hand over her passport and photographs of the finished house to the local office for verification. When she refused, he is said to have publicly shamed her in front of several village residents, labeling her “dishonest” and “dishonourable.” Radhika recounts that he raised his voice, demanded that she leave the site, and threatened to have her evicted from the government‑provided plot unless she complied.

The incident was captured on a nearby farmer’s mobile phone, and the video quickly spread through local WhatsApp groups and later made its way to the TelanganaToday portal. The video shows Radhika standing on the construction site, while the contractor’s men are visibly shouting and gesturing angrily at her. She was forced to abandon her belongings on the site, which left her family with no place to stay for a week.

Official Reactions

Following the viral spread of the video, the district collector’s office in Adilabad issued a press release on 18 March 2025, expressing “deep concern” over the allegations. The collector ordered an immediate investigation into the matter and requested that the contractor’s office submit a report on the incident within 48 hours. The collector also assured the public that the Indiramma Housing Scheme’s strict contractor vetting process would be reviewed to prevent future occurrences.

The Housing Department’s spokesperson, Ms. Sunita Reddy, clarified that the Indiramma scheme had set “zero tolerance” policies for contractor misconduct. “We are launching an independent inquiry with the assistance of the State Public Works Department and the Telangana State Housing Board. The contractor’s license will be temporarily suspended until the investigation is complete,” she stated.

The contractor, Gokul Construction Pvt. Ltd., released a statement denying all allegations. In the statement, the company’s legal counsel, Mr. Venkatesh, said: “The company has complied with all statutory obligations under the Indiramma scheme. Any claim of harassment or intimidation is baseless. We will, however, cooperate fully with the authorities.”

Legal Implications and Wider Context

Radhika filed a formal complaint on 20 March 2025, invoking Section 337 of the Indian Penal Code (criminal negligence causing hurt). She also requested a protective order under the Domestic Violence Act, citing the public nature of the humiliation and its impact on her mental well‑being.

In a related development, the TelanganaState news portal reported that a similar case had emerged in the Karimnagar district last year, where a contractor was accused of coercing a beneficiary into paying an “extra fee” and publicly berating her in a village assembly. In that instance, the contractor was fined Rs 1 million and barred from bidding on Indiramma projects for five years.

These incidents highlight a recurring problem: while the Indiramma Housing Scheme offers significant financial relief to lower‑income families, the oversight of contractors remains a weak link. The Telangana Housing Board’s “Contractor Monitoring” portal—linking to an online dashboard that tracks contractor performance—has been criticized for insufficient data granularity. The board has announced plans to integrate real‑time GPS tracking and biometric attendance to curb misconduct.

Radhika’s Response and Public Sentiment

Radhika’s story has resonated with many in the region. Local social‑media influencers have shared posts advocating for stronger consumer protection in housing schemes. A petition demanding that the Telangana government appoint an independent watchdog body for all affordable housing projects has amassed over 25,000 signatures within a week.

In an interview with TelanganaToday, Radhika said, “I went to the government expecting a home, not a public shaming. If this is how they treat us, the scheme loses its purpose. I just want justice and an assurance that this won’t happen to any other family.”

She also urged the government to conduct community workshops on beneficiary rights. “We need to know our rights and how to enforce them,” she added.

What Comes Next?

The district collector’s office has scheduled a meeting with the contractor’s management on 25 March 2025 to discuss remedial measures. The Telangana Housing Board has announced that the pending contractor licence will be under review, with a potential suspension pending the outcome of the inquiry. Moreover, the Telangana government has indicated that it will conduct a surprise audit of all ongoing Indiramma projects in the state, focusing on contractor compliance and beneficiary satisfaction.

For now, the case remains under investigation, and Radhika remains on standby, awaiting the outcome. Her story serves as a cautionary tale, reminding authorities and beneficiaries alike that a housing scheme’s success hinges on robust accountability mechanisms—not just financial subsidies.

Note: The above article synthesises publicly available reports from the TelanganaToday portal and related Telangana State news outlets, and incorporates contextual information from the Telangana Housing Board’s official communications and the Indiramma Housing Scheme guidelines.