Madhubani: In the ongoing Phase-2 of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), approximately 75,000 beneficiaries from Madhubani Municipal Corporation will need to reapply online for the housing scheme. Previously, these applicants had submitted offline applications from all 45 wards of the corporation. The shift to online applications has sparked discontent among ward councillors and middlemen who were involved during the offline process.
The new directive prioritizes families who missed out on benefits during Phase-1 of the scheme. However, beneficiaries who already received housing under the first phase are unlikely to qualify for this round. The online process now requires caste and residential certificates, aiming to streamline applications and minimize the influence of intermediaries.
Officials believe the online process will reduce the role of middlemen, who reportedly demanded bribes during the offline application phase. With applicants now required to appear in person to complete the online registration, the likelihood of exposing intermediaries has increased. This shift has caused unease among those who benefited from the previous system.
Meanwhile, allegations of corruption in the first phase of the scheme have resurfaced. Several councillors have accused corporation office employees of demanding bribes to release grant amounts to beneficiaries. It is alleged that officials deliberately delayed payments, citing missing documents, until beneficiaries offered bribes.
“Employees visit the houses of beneficiaries and demand bribes before processing the payment. Without this, their cases are kept pending under the pretext of incomplete documentation,” a councillor revealed.
The councillors expressed their anger during the last meeting of the empowered standing committee, demanding immediate action against the corruption.
The online application process for Phase 2 is expected to eliminate such irregularities and ensure a fair selection process for eligible families. However, complaints of malpractice in Phase 1 remain a significant concern.
