Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Bihar Mired in Corruption: The much-celebrated Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), aimed at providing “housing for all” to India’s rural poor, has found itself engulfed in a massive corruption scandal in Bihar’s Ghorasahan block. Multiple reports and local testimonies reveal that beneficiaries are being forced to pay bribes ranging from ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 to access the government assistance they are entitled to.
The scandal has triggered widespread anger across the block, as the very people the scheme intended to uplift are now being exploited by an organized nexus of Vikash Mitras, middlemen (dalals), and block-level government staff.
A Nexus of Exploitation
According to ground-level information from affected villagers in Ghorasahan, almost every selected beneficiary under PMAY was approached by local intermediaries with a clear message: “Pay the bribe, or forget your house.”
From filing paperwork to getting the first installment of funds released, the entire process has reportedly been hijacked by corruption, with Vikash Mitras playing a central role in facilitating the bribe collection. These local functionaries, meant to assist villagers in accessing welfare schemes, have allegedly become agents of extortion, demanding money under the pretext of “processing charges” or “office commissions.”
Victims Speak Out
A beneficiary from a village under Ghorasahan block, requesting anonymity, said:
“I was sanctioned ₹1.20 lakh under PMAY, but I had to pay ₹25,000 in cash to a middleman who claimed to be working with block officials. When I refused, they delayed my application for months.”
Another villager revealed, “Even after paying ₹20,000, the remaining installments are held up. They demand more bribes at every stage. Where do poor people like us go?”
Such stories are echoed across the region, where most beneficiaries have been forced to take loans or sell assets just to meet the bribe demands.
Block Office Under Scanner
The spotlight is now on the block development office (BDO) and associated staff, who are allegedly working hand-in-glove with Vikash Mitras and agents to exploit the system. Locals accuse several clerks and data entry operators of manipulating the beneficiary lists, delaying fund disbursements, and threatening to cancel applications unless bribes are paid.
Despite repeated complaints made by villagers to higher authorities, no significant action has been taken, further raising questions about administrative accountability.
Official Silence, Public Outrage
When approached, local officials declined to comment or simply denied the existence of such malpractice. However, the scale and uniformity of the complaints from across panchayats in Ghorasahan block strongly suggest a systemic rot.
Civic groups and social activists have demanded a high-level probe into the matter. A local social worker stated:
“The PMAY is a flagship scheme meant to provide shelter to the poor. If the poor have to pay bribes to get their due, what remains of good governance? The state government and central authorities must investigate and take swift action.”
A Scheme Hijacked
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) was launched with the noble goal of building affordable and quality houses for the rural poor. The scheme provides financial assistance of ₹1.20 lakh per house, along with support for toilets, electricity, and LPG connections. But in Bihar’s Ghorasahan block, the scheme has seemingly become a source of illicit income for corrupt officials and agents.
