50,000 Ashraya houses allotted to fake beneficiaries

The State Government has identified over 50,000 Ashraya houses allotted to fake beneficiaries. More than Rs 500 crore of government funds has been misused by this. After confirmation, the corporation has decided to file criminal cases against the miscreants. Presidents, vice-presidents and members of Gram Panchayats have got maximum houses allotted

In a major scam, the State Government has identified over 50,000 Ashraya houses allotted to fake beneficiaries, who had claimed more than one house and the government is contemplating filing criminal cases against such fraudsters, reported Kannada Prabha.

Some have got allotted 2 and some 4 to 5 houses by submitting fake documents. More than Rs 500 crore of government funds has been misused by this. The misappropriation came to light during a technical survey conducted by the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation recently. The fraud has been identified prima facie and now it has been decided to use Aadhaar as a definite means to prove the misappropriation.  After confirmation, the corporation has decided to file criminal cases against the miscreants.

The Ashraya House beneficiaries are given Rs 1.15 lakh for each house and in the context of misappropriation, it has been decided to insist on Aadhaar even for sanction of funds. This will delay the release of funds and the Corporation has asked the real beneficiaries to cooperate, said the officials of the Corporation.

The State Government is constructing houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation. The distribution of houses is undertaken, after holding Gram Sabhas by over 9600 Gram Panchayats, Basava Vasati, Ambedkar Vasati, Indira Awas Yojana.  It has been found out recently that one person has got allotted more than one house and presidents, vice-presidents and members of Gram Panchayats have got maximum houses allotted.

The Chairman of Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation got  new software developed to identify fake benecifiacries. According to the new software, after 2005, around 15 lakh beneficiaries’ details were inspected.  Of them 50,000 beneficiaries of recent years are found to be repeated. Further probe revealed several more irregularities. Maximum number of fake beneficiaries was recorded at Raichur and Chamarajanagar districts.

Manish Moudgal, MD of Rajiv gandhi Housing Corporation said that the corporation is taking all steps to identify fake beneficiaries and has made Aadhaar compulsory. Criminal cases will be filed against those who have got allotted more than one house.

The Gram Panchayat PDOs and secretaries have to now examine the suspected beneficiaries and certify if they are fake or genuine. Criminal cases will be filed against all those who are proved to be fake, officials said.