Residents and local officials in Buxar district organized demonstrations at regional offices on October 12th, objecting to how the temporary beneficiary roster for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) scheme was being compiled. Their frustration stemmed from the draft list, which they said omitted numerous needy households while incorrectly including wealthier families.

The gathering at Dumraon’s block office was spearheaded by Mungav panchayat mukhiya Indal Singh, who called for a complete reassessment and full transparency during the verification phase. Participants pointed out that some families owning permanent concrete structures and multi-story homes had been incorrectly approved despite apparent financial disqualifications.

Kanjharua panchayat mukhiya Asgar Ali criticized the verification methods, asserting that housing officials were allegedly consulting outside sources instead of working directly with elected panchayat leaders. Demonstrators insisted on an independent investigation into the list’s creation and clearer oversight of field assessments.

A formal petition requesting a full audit and probe into the suspected irregularities was presented to Dumraon’s block development officer. Meanwhile, the exclusion of 1,014 individuals from Chaugain block’s provisional list deepened local frustration, with villagers insisting on a re-examination of the survey results.

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The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) reported that the preliminary survey had identified 124,154 potential recipients across Buxar district. After rigorous screening, 40,087 met the eligibility requirements, while 84,067 were removed during verification stages.

DRDA director Arvind Kumar stated that gram sabhas are being convened in each panchayat to address the lists and address any objections or appeals submitted by residents. He stressed that the current list remains provisional, as the verification process continues.

Deputy development commissioner Niharika Chhavi explained that the beneficiary list was generated using AI-powered software before undergoing multiple verification layers. Authorities confirmed they will review all complaints and objections before finalizing the roster, incorporating feedback from the ongoing gram sabha discussions where villagers can contest the preliminary decisions.