State rural development minister Shravan Kumar told the legislative council on Monday that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme is being implemented properly in the state, and its progress monitored. The minister said staffers have been roped in on a contract basis to encourage beneficiaries to avail of the facility, and panchayats observe Awas Diwas every Wednesday.
He was replying to a starred question raised by MLCs Radha Charan Sah and Ram Chandra Purbey on the issue of incomplete houses under Indira Awas Yojana and their report not available on the portal.
Shravan told the Upper House that the Indira Awas Yojana was renamed Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin in 2016-17. He said from 2012-13 to 2015-16, the construction of 19.03 lakh houses were approved, and 18.03 lakh beneficiaries have got the first instalment. He said 13.67 lakh units are complete.
He further said as per a letter from the Union ministry dated November 2017, there’s a ban on giving the first instalment to new beneficiaries under the Indira Awas Yojana and only those houses which have received the first instalment will be completed. This means 4.35 lakh beneficiaries will not get money.
Minister further said beneficiaries have to construct their houses themselves and they get the second or other instalments only after completing a certain determined level.
Acting chairperson Awadhesh Narain Singh told the Upper House that the video clippings of the proceedings will be made available to them the same day, which they could use on their social media. BJP MLC Rajneesh Kumar thanked the acting chairperson on behalf of all members.
