Duplicate beneficiary names in Katwa’s Awas Yojana list block genuine applicants; “Sudeshna Roy” listed 5 times

A serious discrepancy has been uncovered in the Awas Yojana beneficiary list in Katwa, East Burdwan, where the name "Sudeshna Roy" appears five times, each with varying family details. In the records, her husband’s name is listed as either Guru Pada Maji or Manik Das, and her father’s name alternates between Shaktipada Kha and Bishwanath Das. Despite these multiple entries under the same name, local residents have confirmed that no individual by the name Sudeshna Roy resides in the Jagadanandapur Gram Panchayat area.

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is a government initiative aimed at providing affordable housing to eligible families, particularly those living in rural areas. The presence of duplicate names in the beneficiary list has raised concerns that legitimate applicants may have been overlooked in favor of these false entries. Villagers have reported that they have been waiting for their housing allocations but have not received the benefits. Many believe the multiple entries under one name have caused a delay in the distribution of housing assistance, preventing real beneficiaries from receiving their entitled homes.

The issue was first discovered by locals, who noticed that Sudeshna Roy’s name kept appearing in the list despite the absence of any such individual in the village. The discrepancies in the records were further corroborated when it was found that the same name had been linked to different family members in the database. Villagers have been vocal about their concerns, alleging that the housing scheme’s benefits were being misallocated due to these ghost entries. Some have gone so far as to accuse government officials of either negligence or involvement in fraudulent practices.

Political leaders have also reacted strongly to the situation. BJP district leader Seema Bhattacharya accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of using ghost names to divert funds meant for genuine beneficiaries. Bhattacharya argued that this was a deliberate attempt to misappropriate funds under the scheme. She has called for a detailed inquiry by the central government into the management of the Awas Yojana funds and the identification of the individuals responsible for these discrepancies. Bhattacharya further added that her party would take the issue to higher authorities if the local investigation did not yield satisfactory results.

In contrast, TMC leaders have denied any wrongdoing. Gautam Ghoshal, a leader of the Trinamool Congress Panchayat Samiti, responded to the allegations by stating that there is no one by the name of Sudeshna Roy in the village. He suggested that the inclusion of the name in the list could have been due to clerical errors or data entry mistakes rather than deliberate fraud. Ghoshal called for a thorough investigation to resolve the confusion and ensure the authenticity of the beneficiary list.

Local authorities, including the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Katwa Block 2, Asif Ansari, have confirmed that an investigation is underway. Ansari stated that the authorities are carefully reviewing the records to verify the identities of all the listed beneficiaries and ensure that no one is being unjustly excluded or included. He assured the public that corrective measures would be taken if any irregularities are found, and the investigation is expected to focus on identifying the sources of the false entries and holding responsible parties accountable. The BDO emphasized the importance of maintaining transparency and fairness in the implementation of the housing scheme. As the investigation continues, villagers and political leaders alike are demanding swift action to ensure that the rightful beneficiaries receive their homes and that the integrity of the Awas Yojana program is upheld.