Anantnag, Jun 09 (KNO): Allegations of large-scale irregularities in the beneficiary selection process under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) 2.0 have triggered widespread resentment in several parts of South Kashmir, with residents accusing authorities of including non-deserving individuals in the priority category while excluding many genuinely eligible families.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), people from Qazigund, Dooru, Kokernag, Gadole and several other areas have raised serious concerns over the recently published beneficiary lists, alleging that the exercise lacks transparency and has deprived many economically weaker households of benefits meant for them.
The aggrieved residents have demanded a comprehensive review of the lists, fresh ground verification and an independent investigation into the alleged discrepancies. Some residents have even sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), claiming that only an impartial inquiry can restore public confidence in the scheme.
Many residents said they had been waiting for years with the hope of receiving assistance under the housing scheme but were left shocked after finding their names either missing from the list or placed in the non-priority category.
“I have been waiting for nearly five years hoping that my case would finally be considered. When the list was released, I was surprised to see my name placed in the non-priority category,” said Gul Mohammad, a resident of Panzath Qazigund.
“What hurts even more is that several people who already have proper concrete houses have been included in the priority list. We fail to understand the criteria adopted for this selection,” he added.
Similar allegations have emerged from Gadole and adjoining areas, where several residents claimed they continue to live in tin sheds and temporary structures but were either omitted altogether or categorized as non-priority beneficiaries.
“We have no permanent shelter and have been living in difficult conditions for years. Despite this, our names are nowhere to be found in the priority list. We want authorities to physically verify every household before finalizing the beneficiaries,” said a local resident from Gadole.
Residents questioned the credibility of the verification process and alleged that local-level data available with field functionaries should have prevented such errors.
They said that mistakes of officials shouldn’t prevent deserving persons from getting the benefits of the govt schemes.
“Officials are saying that names may have been deleted due to a system issue. But if that is the case, what role are the ground staff such as Gram Rozgar Sevaks (GRSs), Village Level Workers (VLWs) and other officials supposed to play? They have complete knowledge of local households and maintain records. Such discrepancies should have been detected well in time,” another resident said.
The residents demanded that authorities immediately undertake a fresh verification exercise, rectify mistakes and ensure that deserving families are not deprived of housing assistance due to administrative lapses.
Responding to the concerns, Director Rural Development Department (RDD) Kashmir, Reyaz Ahmad Wani, said the matter would be examined and corrective action taken wherever required.
“We will look into the complaints. If any wrong entry has been made, there is a provision to delete it after verification,” Wani said.
He explained that beneficiaries approved under the scheme are required to submit geo-tagged photographs at various stages of house construction, making it difficult for ineligible persons to receive benefits without scrutiny.
“Even after sanction, every beneficiary has to provide geo-tagged photographs at different levels. If somebody already has a house and has been wrongly included, the matter can be verified and appropriate action taken. Likewise, if any deserving family has been left out, we will make every effort to include them as per the guidelines,” he said.
Wani further stated that beneficiary lists are generally prepared on the basis of census data and other parameters, including socio-economic indicators and ration card-related information.
Meanwhile, residents have urged the administration to ensure complete transparency in the selection process and conduct a detailed field-level verification so that assistance reaches those who genuinely need support for housing. (KNO)
