Jharkhand CM to Distribute First Installment of Abua Awas Housing Scheme

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to provide houses to those deprived under PMAY. First installment to be given in Khunti on January 23, followed by East Singhbhum on January 29.

Ranchi, January 19: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is set to distribute the first installment of the state government's flagship Abua Awas housing scheme to selected beneficiaries on January 23, marking a significant step towards providing housing to those in need.

Scheme Details and Beneficiaries

The Abua Awas scheme was launched on November 15, 2022, with the aim of providing houses to individuals who were not able to benefit from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Rural development secretary Chandra Sekhar shared that the first installment of the scheme will be distributed during a program in Khunti district on January 23.

Approximately 8,000 beneficiaries from Khunti and Simdega districts will receive the installments during the event. A second event for the scheme will be held in East Singhbhum district on January 29, where the Chief Minister will distribute installments to beneficiaries from East Singhbhum and Saraikela Kharswan districts.

Application Process and Eligibility

The Jharkhand government received a substantial number of applications for the Abua Awas scheme during the third leg of the "Apki Yojna, Apki Sarkar, Apke Dwar" (Your Scheme, Your Government at Your Doorstep) campaign, which ran from November 24 to December 29, 2022. Out of approximately 31 lakh applications received, 29.97 lakh were successfully registered on the Abua Awas portal.

Initially, the government aimed to provide houses to eight lakh beneficiaries. However, considering the overwhelming response and the number of applications received, the government has decided to extend the scheme to include all homeless individuals and those living in kutcha houses.

Progress and Verification

Field verifications have been conducted to assess the eligibility of applicants, and so far, around 69% of the applications have been found to meet the scheme's criteria. Additionally, gram sabha scrutiny is underway, which may result in some rejections.

Financial Assistance and Construction Details

Beneficiaries of the Abua Awas scheme will receive a total of Rs 2 lakh for the construction of a three-room house, disbursed in four installments. The construction of each house is expected to be completed within a 12-month timeframe.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Update

Regarding the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the state government has not received any fresh targets since March 2022. Under the PMAY, Jharkhand was assigned a target of building 15,92,171 houses, out of which 15.58 lakh houses have already been completed. The remaining 34,000 houses are expected to be completed during the current year.

The launch of the Abua Awas housing scheme and the distribution of the first installment to beneficiaries mark a significant milestone in the Jharkhand government's efforts to address housing needs and improve the living conditions of its citizens. The scheme aims to provide secure and adequate housing to those who have been deprived of such benefits in the past, contributing to the overall development and well-being of the state's population.