Ajay Sharma
Rajouri, December 25: Score of complaints of irregularities have surfaced in the allocation of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Nala Panchayat of Rajouri district, wherein local Panchayat representatives (PRIs) are allegedly patronizing affluent families in lieu of their support in elections.
According to sources, on December 9, 2024, the ACD Rajouri issued a notification outlining the eligibility criteria for the scheme.
However, locals alleged that certain influential and affluent individuals are trying to misuse the scheme to their advantage.
“The notification specifies that the scheme benefits will be granted only to those who own less than one kanal of land, do not have a permanent house, are not vehicle owners, and are not employed in government services,” said sources, adding that the locals are demanding that political pressure should not be a factor in determining eligibility.
Sources said that the residents of Nala Panchayat alleged that wealthy individuals are manipulating the system by creating separate ration cards to qualify for the scheme.
“In some cases, three members of the same family have submitted separate applications. Contractors who are financially well-off and registered under GST are also reportedly trying to qualify for the benefits,” alleged sources, adding that some former Panchayat representatives (PRIs) of exploiting the scheme to build a vote bank.
They claimed that these PRIs are submitting applications for everyone to gain political leverage for upcoming local bodies’ elections, either for themselves or their family members.
Moreover, these irregularities are reportedly depriving the rightful beneficiaries of their entitlements, including poor families, widows, persons with disabilities, and other underprivileged individuals.
Locals have demanded the formation of a fair and impartial team to verify the eligibility of applicants.
They insist that community members, including Numberdars and Chowkidars, should be involved in the verification process to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries are identified.
They have appealed the Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri and the SDM of Sunderbani to ensure transparency and fairness in the allocation of houses in Nala Panchayat.
They further warned that if the irregularities persist, they will bring the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau and file a writ petition in the High Court.
