West Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh has warned around 12,500 alleged ineligible beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana that they could face criminal proceedings and imprisonment if they do not return the housing assistance they received from the government exchequer.
Ghosh issued the warning on Sunday while speaking to journalists after a review meeting with officials from Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts in Cooch Behar. “Return the money, otherwise go to jail,” he said, according to The Statesman.
The minister said two notices had already been issued to the alleged ineligible beneficiaries. He added that First Information Reports would be lodged against those who failed to return the funds. The report did not specify the total amount disbursed, the criteria used to identify the beneficiaries or the deadline for repayment.
The action places scrutiny on the administration of a major rural housing programme, where beneficiary identification and verification determine whether public assistance reaches eligible households. The minister’s statement, however, did not provide further details on the verification process or the number of cases in each district.
The review meeting also examined problems affecting the functioning of Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads following changes in the political situation in the state. Ghosh said development work should continue despite political or administrative difficulties and that officials had been instructed to implement development programmes even when an elected panchayat head was unavailable.
He said an administrator would be appointed if a Gram Panchayat Pradhan remained absent for 15 days. Block Development Officers and other officials would take necessary decisions and ensure the implementation of development schemes during the absence of a Pradhan, he said.
According to Ghosh, a large number of no-confidence motions had created difficulties in the functioning of panchayats. Several elected representatives had either resigned or remained absent, he said. “Political crisis should not become a hurdle to development,” Ghosh said, adding that legislators and officials had been asked to ensure that development work continued.
The meeting also reviewed self-help groups and other rural development programmes. Ghosh had held a similar review meeting with officials from Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts at Uttarkanya on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, the minister visited Sagar Dighi in Cooch Behar and interacted with local residents over tea, listening to their views and problems. The next steps announced in the housing-funds matter are the repayment notices and the filing of FIRs against alleged ineligible beneficiaries who do not return the money.
