Over 43 lakh poor in Bihar realize dream of permanent homes

Patna, November 4: (ABN) The lives of the poor living in slums and dilapidated houses in Bihar's rural areas are changing rapidly. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), 43 lakh 14 thousand 959 poor people in the state have built and completed their dream permanent homes. According to data released by the Department of Rural Development, a record 49 lakh 9 thousand 740 beneficiaries have been approved for houses against a target of a total 49 lakh 16 thousand 649 houses from fiscal year 2016-17 to date. The Bihar government has spent a total of 56,743.40 crore rupees so far on the transparent implementation of this important scheme and the campaign to provide houses with basic amenities.

According to officials of the Department of Rural Development, the scheme is being implemented rapidly in the state, which has been divided into two phases. In the first phase, a target of 37,01,138 houses was set from fiscal year 2016-17 to 2021-22. Against this target, the department showed haste by approving 37,531 eligible beneficiaries, of which construction work for 36,63,701 families has been completed. In the first phase, all three installments of funds were released transparently and on time, resulting in a major success in transforming the rural landscape.

Maintaining this pace, a target of constructing a total of 12,15,511 houses has been set for the second phase (fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26). Under the scheme, houses have been approved for 12,09,209 beneficiaries so far. The progress of the scheme can be gauged by the fact that in the second phase, the first installment has been paid to 11,70,945 beneficiaries, the second installment to 10,21,366 beneficiaries, and the third installment to 7,13,329 beneficiaries.

As a result, 6,51,258 beneficiaries in the second phase have completed the construction of their permanent homes. These permanent homes, built with assistance of 1.20 lakh rupees per beneficiary, are not only providing shelter to homeless families but also improving their quality of life, providing them with social security and a dignified life.

In this regard, Minister of Rural Development and Information and Public Relations, Shri Sharan Kumar, said that the government is fully committed to reaching the fruits of development to the grassroots level in rural areas. Through the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme (Rural), poor and vulnerable families are not only getting shelter but also an opportunity to live with dignity. The department is constructing approved houses with complete transparency and speed. The installment amounts are being transferred directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries on time, ensuring that there are no obstacles in construction. Construction work for families whose plans are ongoing will also be completed as soon as possible, achieving 100 percent target.