India Today probes graft charges in PM Awas Yojana in Bengal | Ground report

By Rajesh Saha: ‘Roti, kapda, and makaan’ are the basic needs of over 25 crore people living in poverty in India. The central government’s housing scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), is a flagship programme that aims to provide shelter for the needy. However, in West Bengal, allegations of irregularities in the housing schemes have emerged ahead of panchayat elections in the state.

Under the scheme launched in 2015, the Central government allotted huge funds to build affordable concrete houses by 2024 in urban and rural areas, with the state and the Centre sharing expenses at a 60:40 ratio. However, in Bengal, allegations of lack of transparency and accountability have emerged after ineligible names allegedly appeared on the list of PMAY applicants.

India Today carried out an investigation into allegations of large scale deletion from the PMAY list. India Today's investigation led to a complainant from Narayani Tala village in South 24 Parganas district.

A complainant recently wrote to the panchayet secretary of the state, alleging that most of the names enlisted for PM Awas Yojana in Narayani Tala Gram Panchayat in their district have been selected despite their ineligibility to pass the need-based parameters. The complainant further claimed that the local panchayat chief and the block development officer shared a hands-on-gloves relationship and “approved the names in favour of their own henchmen.”

The complainant also submitted a list of names allegedly enlisted illegally and claimed that most of them either have their own two-storied building or lived on tenant property, which violates the guidelines issued by the Central government for PM Awas Yojana.

The complainant's letter along with the list of the names was forwarded to India Today, following which our team reached Narayani Tala village in South 24 Parganas district to investigate the alleged scam.

Out of the long list of names, India Today team visited about six of the listed applicants. Most of the applicants' houses were found to be concrete houses or two-storeyed houses or the applicants were found to be known as financially established in the locality.

CASE 1

Applicant name-Lipika Ghosh,
Husand's name- Ashok Ghosh
Booth no-180
Area- Sarberia Bazar

It was found that the family was living in a well-decorated two-storey building. One car was parked in the courtyard. Still, Lipika’s name was allegedly on the list despite the family having a well-established business of mobile phones and lotteries.

When the India Today team walked in and tried to speak to one of their family members, they were received with hostility.

They also asked the team to shut down the camera and shouted at the person on camera, asking them to leave immediately. They claimed that they did not know how Lipika’s name was mentioned in the list as she had not even applied.

CASE 2

Applicant name-Dibakar Saha
Father's name-Basudeb Saha
Booth no-181
Area-Chakroborty Math

A big concrete house can be seen from their main gate, although a hut has been installed behind the concrete house. Dibakar Saha’s son told India Today, "My grandfather owns this concrete house, not my father. We were separated a few years ago. Currently, we stay in this hut. That's why we have applied for PM Awas Yojana."

Though a local BJP leader claimed that the family installed the hut to showcase “poverty” to get funds from the government.

The applicant, Dibakar Saha, is a retired bus driver. He is allegedly close to the Panchayat chief

CASE 3

Applicant name - Samar Saha
Father's name- Basanta Saha
Booth no - 179
Area- Sarberia Saha Para

India Today's team discovered a two-storey building here. The applicant is known in the locality as financially established. The applicant, Samar Saha, himself told India Today that he owns two separate lands, adding that the house (that India Today visited) was “too old and got damaged with time”.

He said that he applied for PM Awas Yojana for the second land he owns.

CASE 4

Applicant name-Rita Das
Husband's name-Kalipada Das
Booth no-175
Area- Kantapukuria

The applicant's husband has a poultry farm and has an established meat shop in the locality and owns a goods vehicle.

The opposition party claims that Kalipada Das has a hut in front of their own concrete house for a “show”. His concrete house is clearly visible besides the hut. Although, Kalipada Das claimed that he applied for the fund, their name was rejected.

CASE 5

Applicant name-Pritam Dutta
Father's name-Manik Dutta
Booth no-175
Area-Kantapukuria
GP-Narayanitala

A well-painted concrete house was spotted by the India Today team. Manik Dutta claimed he stays in this house along with his two sons. He said that though his elder son is established, his younger son, Pritam, is still unemployed and applied for PM Awas Yojana.

However, when India Today asked why they need government funds for a house despite having a house of their own, Manik Dutta could not give a satisfactory answer.

CASE 6

Applicant name-Ashish Das
Mother's name-Karali Das
Booth no-175
Area- Kantapukuria

A well-decorated two- storey building was spotted here. Ashish is known as a financially established person in the locality. He has an electronic gadgets repair center.

Despite having notable property, his name has still been included in PM Awas Yojana's list, as per the allegation.

All the names mentioned above have been selected to get the PM Awas Yojana fund, as per the allegations raised. Local BJP leader Pritam Hazra told India Today, "Several discrepancies were found in the list made for granting the fund of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. We went to the BDO office, though he refused to hear us as well as to take the deputation. Panchayat Pradhan also refused to take complaint from us. Finally, we took the help of law and wrote a letter to Panchayat secretary through my lawyer and drew his attention."

The India Today team reached the residence of accused Panchayat Pradhan, but he was not at his home then. Speaking to India Today over the phone, Panchayat Pradhan Ashok Saha claimed, "There is no role of panchayat in making the list, BDO can only answer these questions. The list has been prepared on behalf of the BDO office and they have inspected each residence. If something happened like this, then this is definitely illegal. This is the first time I have heard of this; I will investigate from my end".

Meanwhile, block development officer of Jayanagar, Satyajit Biswas, said that he received a complaint and an enquiry has been conducted into the matter.

"I have received the complaint and an enquiry has been conducted thoroughly but I haven't got the report yet, let me check it,” Satyajit Biswas told India Today over the phone.

Advocate Sayan Sachin Basu, who filed the complaint to Panchayat secretary of the state on behalf of the complainant, told India Today, "The block development officer stated that he is conducting an investigation over our complaint, we are waiting for the investigation report. If this is unsatisfactory, then we will move to the Kolkata High Court for further legal action."