Prayagraj has witnessed a case of large-scale fraud in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Over 9,000 beneficiaries reportedly availed themselves of financial assistance worth ₹1.20 lakh each under the
scheme despite already owning houses, the report said.
Under PMAY, economically weaker families are entitled to receive ₹1.20 lakh in three installments to construct a home. However, a post-disbursement survey revealed that thousands of recipients had already built houses, some even two-storeyed, and had submitted fake documents to claim the benefit, News18 Hindi reported.
In the Shankargarh block alone, 3,127 beneficiaries did not construct even a single brick wall after receiving the first installment. Local
inquiries confirmed that these individuals did not require a new house. The administration has now initiated the process of recovering the funds and taking legal action against the culprits. Chief Development Officer Harshika Singh has also ordered an inquiry into the officials who approved such applications, the report mentioned
Fraud in pension schemes
The irregularities are not limited to the housing scheme. Investigations have also exposed fraud worth over ₹40 lakh in various pension schemes, including those run by
the Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, and Disabled Welfare departments, the Times of India reported.
The report said in the widow pension scheme, over 100 women who had either remarried or passed away a year ago continued to receive pensions, leading to wrongful payments of more than ₹12 lakh.
In the old-age pension scheme, out of 1.53 lakh beneficiaries, at least 2,351 were found to be deceased, yet their families continued to draw the pension.
Officials admitted that due to the absence of a
mechanism to reclaim wrongly disbursed amounts, recovery has become difficult. District Program Officer Sarvjeet Singh said pensions were credited to the correct bank accounts, and there is no system to withdraw the funds once disbursed. District Social Welfare Officer Ram Shankar also acknowledged the lack of provisions in the current rules for recovering such payments, the report said.
Systemic lapses
These revelations highlight serious loopholes in the verification, monitoring, and recovery mechanisms of
welfare schemes. They raise pressing concerns about transparency and accountability in the distribution of public funds, underscoring the urgent need for stricter checks, audits, and reforms in policy implementation.
