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Bakera, Odisha: Serious allegations of irregularities have surfaced in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Bakera Panchayat under Anukool block, raising concerns among local residents and officials.
According to villagers, several eligible beneficiaries have been excluded from the final housing list, while some ineligible individuals have reportedly been included. This has triggered widespread dissatisfaction and demands for a thorough investigation.
One such case is that of Urmila Nayak, a resident of Bakera Panchayat, who claimed that despite living in a poor and vulnerable housing condition, her name was not included in the beneficiary list. She alleged that her house, made of temporary materials, is barely livable, especially during harsh weather conditions.
“We applied multiple times, but our name never appeared in the final list. Meanwhile, people with better houses have been selected,” said Urmila.
Local residents have accused the Panchayat authorities of favoritism, claiming that only a select group of beneficiaries were approved, leaving many deserving families behind. Reports suggest that even families with existing pucca houses or under-construction buildings were included in the list.
Villagers further alleged that the selection process lacked transparency, and complaints submitted to authorities have not been addressed properly.
Local intellectuals and community leaders have demanded that the entire beneficiary list be scrapped and re-evaluated. They have urged the district and block administration to conduct an independent verification process to ensure fairness.
“The current list does not reflect the ground reality. A fresh survey must be conducted to identify genuine beneficiaries,” said a local resident.
Responding to the allegations, the Sarpanch of Bakera Panchayat stated that the list was prepared based on the official survey and guidelines provided under PMAY. However, he acknowledged that some discrepancies might exist and assured that necessary corrections would be made after verification.
“If any ineligible person has been included or a deserving beneficiary left out, we will take corrective action after proper investigation,” the Sarpanch said.
The controversy has raised serious questions about the implementation of government housing schemes at the grassroots level. Residents are now demanding strict action against those responsible for the alleged irregularities.
The issue has also sparked debates over whether financial influence or corruption played a role in the selection process, although no official confirmation has been made so far.
Authorities are expected to review the complaints and may initiate a re-survey or audit of the beneficiary list. Until then, affected families continue to struggle without proper housing, awaiting justice under a scheme meant to provide “Housing for All.”
