GUWAHATI: The Block Development Officer (BDO) of Manikpur Development Block, Manjushri Ghosh, has been placed under suspension amid allegations of widespread discrepancies and irregularities in the allocation and construction of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G).
The suspension order, issued by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, follows an extensive investigation that unearthed a litany of concerns during Ghosh's tenure. Ghosh was not available for comment.
Several beneficiaries of PMAY-G were found to possess permanent houses on the same property already, casting doubt on the necessity of providing additional housing through the programme.
Numerous houses marked as “completed” in the AwaasSoft portal were physically found to be incomplete during field inquiries. This included houses missing doors and windows, indicating a failure to meet the programme's requirements for marking completion in the portal.
Instances were identified where multiple members of the same family received separate PMAY-G houses, raising questions about equitable resource distribution and whether these families genuinely needed multiple houses.
Concerns arose regarding job cards, including incomplete or missing job cards and payment discrepancies, suggesting potential irregularities in job card maintenance and payment processes.
Some beneficiaries proceeded with construction beyond the plinth level even when not all instalments had been released, indicating a lack of timely inspections.
Despite apparent separations within families, it was observed that multiple family members continued to share kitchens or live in close proximity in permanent houses, hinting at irregularities in the scrutiny of family arrangements and eligibility.
Concerns raised by beneficiaries, including allegations of solicitation for money and the collection of personal information, further highlighted potential improprieties.
Based on the Inquiry team's report, the Disciplinary Authority in the Panchayat and Rural Development Department decided to suspend Ghosh per Rule 6(1) of the Assam Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1964.
The suspension takes immediate effect, with Ghosh entitled to a subsistence allowance as per rules. She is also prohibited from leaving her headquarters without prior permission from the competent authority.