Ineligible candidates cornered BPL homes
20 Dec 2014 1:05 AM GMT
In a major housing scam, nearly 87,949 ineligible people across the country were allotted houses under the Centre’s rural housing scheme -- Indira Awas Yojana (IAY). The startling revelation came in the CAG audit report on IAY, which was tabled in the parliament on Friday. “Out of 617 districts in the country, we have selected 168 districts (in 27 states) as a sample survey and found that from April 2008 to March 2013 several ineligible beneficiaries were selected,” CAG report read.
In 12 states, the national auditor came across names of 36,751 non-BPL families who availed the assistance of nearly Rs 89.15 crore. “In 11 states, 10,184 ineligible beneficiaries were selected and Rs 31.73 crore was paid to them, while in seven states, 33,536 beneficiaries were selected from outside the permanent IAY wait-lists and paid assistance of Rs 138.02 crore,” CAG report said.
In another eight states, 1,654 beneficiaries who received assistance of Rs 5.37 crore, already had pucca houses (which does not fall under the eligible criteria). In eight states, 5,824 beneficiaries were selected more than once and payment of Rs 14.67 crore was made to them.
The Auditors also pointed out that in six states female members of the household were not preferred under the schemes. At time when the government talk about women empowerment and their security, such disturbing findings has raised several questions over the functioning of the previous governments.
It was learnt that the assessment of housing shortage was mainly based on the estimation of Working Group on Rural Housing under the Planning Commission. But it was noted that the actual housing shortage (essential for identification of beneficiaries) was not assessed in 14 states including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa among others.
In 12 states, the national auditor came across names of 36,751 non-BPL families who availed the assistance of nearly Rs 89.15 crore. “In 11 states, 10,184 ineligible beneficiaries were selected and Rs 31.73 crore was paid to them, while in seven states, 33,536 beneficiaries were selected from outside the permanent IAY wait-lists and paid assistance of Rs 138.02 crore,” CAG report said.
In another eight states, 1,654 beneficiaries who received assistance of Rs 5.37 crore, already had pucca houses (which does not fall under the eligible criteria). In eight states, 5,824 beneficiaries were selected more than once and payment of Rs 14.67 crore was made to them.
The Auditors also pointed out that in six states female members of the household were not preferred under the schemes. At time when the government talk about women empowerment and their security, such disturbing findings has raised several questions over the functioning of the previous governments.
It was learnt that the assessment of housing shortage was mainly based on the estimation of Working Group on Rural Housing under the Planning Commission. But it was noted that the actual housing shortage (essential for identification of beneficiaries) was not assessed in 14 states including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa among others.
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