Beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Maholi village, located in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district, are facing severe difficulties as construction on their homes has come to a complete standstill. Under the government initiative, eligible families were allocated an initial installment of 100,000 rupees to begin constructing their houses. However, more than a year has elapsed since the first payout, and the second installment has yet to be released into their bank accounts. As a result, houses remain unfinished across the village. With the monsoon season underway, affected families are suffering immense hardship, with several residing in rented rooms and others forced to seek shelter beneath temporary tin roofs.
The Role of DUDA and Implementation in Mathura
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana was designed to provide permanent shelter to underprivileged citizens. In Mathura district, the District Urban Development Agency (DUDA) was assigned the primary responsibility of identifying eligible beneficiaries, preparing verified lists, and facilitating fund disbursements. Through this process, thousands of residents across Mathura received financial backing under the scheme, helping many secure permanent homes. However, in Maholi village, the interruption in installment rollouts has hindered the complete realization of these intended benefits.
Depleted Savings and Unfinished Roofs
Dinesh Thakur, a resident of Maholi village, shared his experience regarding the ongoing delay. After receiving the initial 100,000 rupees installment, Thakur utilized his personal savings to accelerate construction, managing to raise the walls up to the lintel level. However, his financial backup has now been entirely exhausted. Thakur stated that nearly 1.5 years have passed without any trace of the second installment. Due to the ongoing heavy rains and lack of a complete roof, his family cannot move into the structure and is forced to pay rent for alternate housing. Until the subsequent installments arrive, his home remains an incomplete shell.
Living Under Tin Roofs Amid Heightened Distress
Another beneficiary, a woman named Shrimati, along with a local youth named Bhura, expressed similar frustrations. Shrimati noted that after filling out the housing application in 2025, an initial 100,000 rupees was deposited into their bank account. Over a year has passed since then, but no further funds have been received. She explained that construction on her house has reached only the damp-proof course (DPC) level. With limited funds even for daily sustenance, spending out of pocket to advance construction is impossible. Shrimati remarked that the initial payout felt like a hollow promise, leaving them anxiously waiting for the second and third installments that may never materialize. Currently, her family is forced to live under a temporary tin side structure.
Corruption and Extortion Allegations Surrounding Scheme Operations
Beyond the prolonged delay in receiving funds, allegations of systemic corruption have emerged regarding the local execution of the scheme. Villagers report that intermediaries and corrupt individuals are demanding illegal payments ranging from 20,000 rupees to 50,000 rupees under the guise of processing approvals and clearing subsequent installments. For economically vulnerable families already struggling to secure basic shelter, these extortion demands have exacerbated their financial distress.
