PM Awas Yojana: 9000 fake beneficiaries identified, CDO confirms recovery

PM Awas Yojana: In a major crackdown on housing fraud, Prayagraj’s Chief Development Officer (CDO), Harshika Singh, has confirmed that over 9,000 individuals were found to have fraudulently availed benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

The fraudulent beneficiaries, who were already homeowners, submitted fake documents to claim the government subsidy of Rs 1.20 lakh each. The amount is provided in three installments to help economically weaker families construct a house.

A departmental survey conducted after the first installment was released revealed that over 9,000 people across various villages already had houses, some of them even double-storied. The fraud was unearthed during a departmental survey and on-site inspection.

For instance, in just one block, Shankargarh, over 3,127 beneficiaries had not even laid a single brick after receiving the initial assistance. Local verification confirmed that they did not need a new house. CDO Harshika Singh has initiated an investigation and instructed the administration to begin recovery proceedings against the fraudulent beneficiaries.

Legal action will also be taken against the individuals who submitted fake documents. Furthermore, officials who approved these applications are also under scrutiny, and proceedings will be initiated against them as well.

This fraud is not limited to the PMAY scheme. Officials have also exposed irregularities in various pension schemes for widows, the elderly, and the disabled, highlighting serious loopholes in the verification and recovery systems for public welfare funds. The lack of a clear recovery mechanism for such cases is hindering further action, underscoring a need for policy reforms.

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