The state urban development department has decided on a record book for every beneficiary of housing schemes for the urban poor to ensure transparency in the use of funds.

The eight-page ledger named ‘Upobhoktar Passbook’ will keep all relevant data of each beneficiary including photographs of the present state of the house and then newly built homes, and the date and funds received.

The development is significant at a time when allegations of inclusion of ineligible beneficiaries under the PMAY rural housing scheme have put the state government under pressure to form a special task committee amid a backdrop of public agitations.

“We don’t want to face any complaints of irregularities like what the officials are facing with rural housing schemes. Once the house is sanctioned, the beneficiary will get the book. All progress of building his or her house will be recorded there by a dedicated person regularly,” said a senior official in the State Urban Development Authority (SUDA).

The housing scheme in urban areas is officially called Housing For All (HFA), also known as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (urban).

Of Rs 3.68 lakh, Rs 1.5 lakh is contributed by the Centre and Rs 1.93 lakh by the state.

Each beneficiary needs to contribute the rest Rs 25,000. The money is disbursed directly to the beneficiary account in five instalments.

In the eight-page record book, officials will record all personal details of one beneficiary, records of land and property and names of all family members. There are two pages where the photograph of the present dwelling unit with the beneficiary and family, and another photograph of the beneficiary, family and the newly built home will be kept.

“Under PMAY, there are complaints of many ineligible candidates with two or three-storey buildings.... The photograph of the present house is to see if the beneficiary is eligible,” said a SUDA official.

Sources said there have been multiple charges of councillors or local leaders asking for ‘cut money’ to release funds. Hence a dedicated person will visit each household and update developments in the record book. “There will be a record of date and amount of funds sent to the beneficiary bank account and work status,” said an official.

The state government has deputed women’s self-help groups to monitor housing units and update progress in the record book.