Assam plans 26 lakh PMAY houses, 15 lakh more

Assam is working hard to build 26 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to help the underprivileged. The state government plans to add 15 lakh more homes, aiming for “housing for all.” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced these efforts during an event in Rampur on Wednesday. At the event, Sarma handed out 10 sanction letters to beneficiaries. This marked the launch of the initiative, which will soon provide 3,88,358 sanction letters under PMAY-Gramin (PMAY-G). The first payment of Rs 37,500 will be sent directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts to assist with building their new houses. Sarma stressed the importance of this project and confirmed that improving housing is a priority for the government. Along with the distribution of letters, an ‘Awas Plus Survey’ will take place from March 17 to 26. This survey aims to identify more potential beneficiaries. It will be conducted by Jeevika Sakhis, and applicants can verify their Aadhaar through e-KYC. The Chief Minister encouraged people to avoid middlemen, ensuring that the process will be straightforward and without any fees. In addition to housing, Sarma also mentioned plans to expand the ‘Orunodoi’ scheme. He aims to increase the number of beneficiaries from 26 lakh to 37 lakh in the coming months. Moreover, ration card holders will receive subsidies on essential items like sugar, pulses, and salt.