The Centre has asked states to allot land to a female member of homeless families so that they can be provided with funds for construction of homes under a recently launched scheme.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY), the Centre is aiming to construct more than 2 crore houses by 2022 for families from lower income groups and economically weaker sections, which will be supplemented with power, water and LPG connections.

Scheme details

Out of these, 60 per cent of houses will be constructed for the homeless and those living in kachcha houses belonging to SC and ST communities, Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav said.

He said government would transfer ₹1,20,000 into the account of beneficiaries in the plain areas. Besides this, they will also be provided ₹12,000 for toilet construction and 90 days of work under MNREGA, which is equivalent to ₹18,000.

Similarly, in hilly areas, the beneficiaries will get ₹1,30,000 for construction purposes along with ₹12,000 for toilet construction and ₹18,000 from MNREGA.

“Priority is being given to homeless families and therefore states have been asked to allot land in the name of a female member of such family so that they can be provided funds for construction of homes,” Rural Development Secretary Amarjeet Sinha said.

Some states have already allotted land to homeless families and a few others are in the process, he added.

Geo-tagging

To ensure transparency and to check the diversion of funds, there will be geo-tagging of all houses which will be built under this scheme, Sinha said, adding that an online platform has also been created where all the required details of beneficiaries along with their pictures will be uploaded.

In November this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched flagship housing scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojna,’ designed entirely for the rural masses. The ambitious scheme aims to provide affordable houses to all those living below the poverty line by the year 2022.

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