Prayagraj: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key safeguard in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), helping authorities identify nearly 42,000 applicants in Prayagraj district who falsely claimed to be homeless.Officials associated with the scheme said while online applications were accepted in previous years as well, a new system was introduced last year under which beneficiaries conducted a “self-survey” through a mobile app. Applicants were required to upload their personal details along with photographs of their existing houses. In addition, surveys were also conducted by field staff. A total of 1,64,953 applications were received from across the district’s 23 development blocks. While many genuine applicants living in huts and kutcha houses applied for assistance, officials found that a significant number of ineligible individuals also managed to enter the list. During verification, 61,566 applications were marked as suspicious and sent to the respective blocks for detailed scrutiny. After physical verification and cross-checking, around 42,000 applicants were found to be ineligible. The process of removing their names from the beneficiary list is currently underway. Project director of the District Rural Development Agency, Bhupendra Singh, said verification of applications was completed and action was being taken against ineligible beneficiaries. Singh said: “The system automatically analysed uploaded photographs and flagged applications where permanent structures such as concrete walls or roofs were visible. Subsequent field inquiries revealed that many of these applicants already owned pucca houses, making them ineligible.”
