Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to identify irregularities and weed out ineligible beneficiaries in rural housing schemes, said Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik on Wednesday.
This move aims to enhance transparency and ensure that benefits reach the truly deserving.
Addressing the media, Minister Naik said strict action will be taken against individuals who have availed houses despite already owning pucca homes or benefiting from schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Antyodaya Gruha Yojana.
Naik highlighted that cases of beneficiaries failing to construct houses after receiving assistance are minimal, but the department is closely monitoring all projects to prevent misuse of funds. Officials have been directed to ensure the timely completion of houses and to take immediate action if any irregularities are found.
In a significant announcement, the minister said 50,000 houses will be distributed under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana on September 17, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.