Lok Sabha Question No. 2505 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Complaints of Irregularities under PMAY-G in Odisha
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Suresh Pujari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2505 ANSWERED ON 03/08/2021

## COMPLAINTS OF IRREGULARITIES UNDER PMAY-G IN ODISHA

## 2505.   SHRI SURESH PUJARI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any complaints regarding large scale irregularities in implementation of the Prime Minister Awas Yojna- Grameen (PMAY-G) in the State of Odisha, if so, the details thereof along with the enquiry conducted by the Government to find out the truth thereof;
- (b) if so, the report thereof along with its follow ups and the finding in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government would take the responsibility to go for a full scale enquiry to find  out  all  faults  and  irregularities,  get  it  corrected  and  ensure  that  the  pro  poor ambitious scheme of the Government is not derailed in Odisha; and
- (d) the  details  of  action  including  criminal  action  taken  or  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the Government  against  the  culprit  officials  in  the  irregularities  caused  willingly  and deliberately?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a) Yes  Sir.  A  joint  representation  by  9  hon'ble  Members  of  Parliament  alleging  certain irregularities in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) in Odisha was received. The major irregularities pointed out were:
- i. 85% of the 12.85 lakh PMAY-G beneficiaries in Odisha are ineligible for the Scheme and majority of funds have been mis-utilised for personal gains.
- ii. Multiple members of the same family have been granted houses under the scheme and families  whose  applications  were  rejected  in  2018-19  have  been  allotted  houses  in 2019-20.
- iii. No  mention  of  the  Scheme  as  'Pradhan  Mantri  Awaas  Yojana-Gramin',  a  Central scheme at the ground level.
- iv. The State  Government has not made  any budgetary provision under PMAY-G for last three years.
- v. The  Central  Government  had  sanctioned  PMAY-G  Assistance  for  3.89  lakh  houses damaged by cyclone 'Fani' and that large irregularities have been reported in selection of beneficiaries in this category.
- vi. A list of 831 ineligible beneficiaries having been allocated houses under PMAY-G was shared.

In another complaint, it was alleged that the logo of Biju Pucca GharYojana (BPGY) is being affixed on the PMAY-G houses and the size of (BPGY) logo is bigger than that of PMAY-G. It was  also  alleged  that  the  houses  constructed  under  PMAY-G  are  being  shown  as  houses constructed under BPGY.

- (b) The complaint was forwarded to the State Government of Odisha for enquiring and status report.The State Government of Odisha had submitted the following report:
- i. that  out  of  775  ineligible  beneficiaries  in  FANI  affected  districts  alleged  to  have  been identified as eligible in Awaas+,  registration, geo-tagging and aadhaar seeding have been completed in respect of 79 eligible beneficiaries. The remaining 696 from the list were not found eligible and therefore their names were not registered in Awaas+.
- ii. that  out  of  56  PMAY-G  beneficiaries  alleged  to  be  irregularly  selected,  39  have  been sanctioned  houses.  Irregularities  in  selection  were  detected  in  4  cases  for  which  the Collector,  Khurda  has  placed  Rabindra  Kumar  Panda,  PEO  Begunia  Block  under suspension and FIR has also been lodged against three villagers for involvement in illegal selection. Recovery proceedings of paid amount have already been initiated.
- iii. in respect of allegation for not making budgetary provision under PMAY-G,there is no pendency  in  drawal  of  matching  State  Share  and  the  state  has  always  made  adequate budgetary provision.
- iv. in respect of allegation of attempt by the State to rename the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), no such attempt has ever been made. State Government had decided to Co-Brand the PMAY-G houses by affixing logo of both PMAY-G and BPGY as State also invests 40% as matching State Share under PMAY-G.
- (c)  &  (d)    The  Ministry  had  also  constituted  a  Central  Team  which  visited  the  State  during 9 th -11 th February  2021  to  conduct  inquiry  and  the  Team  has  submitted  its  report.  The  major findings of the report are lack of PMAY-G logo, poor quality of construction, incomplete houses shown  as  completed  in  MIS  of  the  PMAY-G  Scheme,  houses  sanctioned  to  ineligible beneficiaries, etc.

On the basis of the findings of the report of the Central Team, the Ministry has requested the State Government of Odisha to take following actions immediately to ensure that perpetrators of the fraud and their collaborators are dealt with sternly and submit Action Taken Report (ATR) at the earliest.

- i. FIR be filed against the erring officials immediately
- ii. Action be taken against the BDO, the second signatory of the FTOs and other supervisors who would have certified and inspected the works
- iii. Show cause be served against the concerned district officials for not taking timely stern action against the erring officials
- iv. The  state  government  to  widely  publicise  the  action  taken  in  the  matter  including  on social media
- v. The state government may tone up its administrative machinery so that such incidences are not repeated in future.

The State Government of Odisha has submitted the Action Taken Report on the findings of the report of the Central Team  to the Ministry of Rural Development vide letter dated 20.07.2021.The ATR of the State is being examined and suitable action would be taken after the approval of the competent authority.

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