CAG Flags Faults in Madhya Pradesh PM Awas Yojana

• 29 Feb 2024

Why in News?

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has flagged irregularities in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) in Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• The public housing programme was introduced by the Centre in 2016 as an instrument of poverty alleviation. Its aim was to provide pucca houses with basic amenities to those living in kutcha and dilapidated houses in rural areas by 2022.
  • In the Interim Budget 2024, the Ministry of Finance announced the construction of 2 crore additional houses over the next 5 years under the PMAY-G.
• The CAG report looks into the scheme’s implementation from 2016-21, when 26,28,525 houses were sanctioned and Rs 24,723 crore was paid to beneficiaries.
• The report states that:
  • Out of the sanctioned houses, 82.35% were completed.
  • Though the scheme mandates that households with a vehicle or fishing boat be excluded, 2,037 beneficiaries had two/three/four wheeler before sanction of a house in the 10 audited districts.
  • PMAY-G assistance of Rs 15.66 crore to 1,555 out of 2,037 ineligible beneficiaries.
  • Houses were sanctioned twice to the same beneficiary in 64 cases. In 98 cases, one house was sanctioned to the actual beneficiary and another to his/her family members who were not identified for the scheme.
  • There is no system to alert in the portal to identify duplication of beneficiaries.
  • Out of a total 18,935 sanctioned cases, 8,226 beneficiaries superseded the more deprived beneficiaries in the priority list.
  • The report also noticed delays in disbursing installments to beneficiaries which led to a delay in constructing the homes.
  • In 90 cases PMAY-G house was sanctioned to minors and benefit was provided to their relatives.
  • Awaas Soft data was scrutinized as names of the beneficiaries were not mentioned in 1,246 instances and in 950 cases, the benefit was released.
    • Awaas Soft, a web-based transactional electronic service delivery platform, used in implementation and monitoring of the scheme.
  • The framework of the scheme stipulates that “allotment of house shall be made jointly in the name of husband and wife except in the case of a widow/unmarried/separated person” was also violated.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G)

• To achieve the objective of “Housing for All” by 2022, the erstwhile rural housing scheme Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) was restructured to Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) with effect from 1^st April, 2016.
• The Ministry Involved is the Ministry of Rural development.
• It aims to help rural people Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of a full grant.
• Beneficiaries include the people belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories, widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action, ex servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces, disabled persons and minorities.
• The cost of unit assistance is shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states.

Comptroller and Auditor General of India

• Article 148 provides for an independent office of the CAG. It is the supreme audit institution of India.
  • Other Provisions Related to CAG Include: Articles 149-151 (Duties & Powers, Form of Accounts of the Union and the States and Audit Reports), Article 279 (calculation of net proceeds, etc.) and Third Schedule (Oath or Affirmation) and Sixth Schedule (Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram).
• Guardian of the public purse and controls the entire financial system of the country at both the levels–the Centre and the state.
• Appointed by the President of India for a period of six years or upto the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• CAG can be removed by the President on the basis of a resolution passed to that effect by both the Houses of Parliament with special majority, either on the ground of proved misbehavior or incapacity.