A wave of happiness swept across Samastipur as 35,114 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) received the first installment of funds to build their homes, marking a significant milestone in Bihar’s housing program.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar distributed the first installment and handed over keys to 4,509 beneficiaries, bringing their dreams of homeownership to life. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, which aims to provide housing for the homeless, has made significant progress in Samastipur. On Wednesday, through a video conference, Chief Minister Kumar transferred the first installment of ₹40,000 each to the bank accounts of 35,114 beneficiaries from various blocks of the district, officially kickstarting the construction of their new homes.
This installment is part of a larger initiative, with a total of ₹94.68 crore allocated for housing construction under PMAY in Samastipur.
The funds were distributed to beneficiaries in a simple yet meaningful ceremony at the Collectorate, symbolizing the first step toward building a brighter future for these families.
District Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC) Sandeep Shekhar Priyadarshi stated that Samastipur’s target for the 2024-25 financial year is to construct 44,477 houses, with 38,286 homes already approved in two phases. Of these, 26,206 homes were approved in the second phase, and the first installment has been successfully disbursed to 23,517 beneficiaries.
Samastipur now holds the distinction of having the highest number of beneficiaries in the state. Additionally, 4,509 homes have already been completed, and their keys were distributed to their rightful owners.
Among them, five beneficiaries from the Samastipur block were invited to the Collectorate to receive the keys to their new homes after completing physical verification.
Expressing their joy and gratitude upon receiving the keys, beneficiaries shared their experiences.
Kumari Anju, a beneficiary, said: “Earlier, we didn’t have a house. My husband runs a handcart, and with the money from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, we’ve built a home. Now, I’m holding the keys to our own house.”
Another beneficiary, Vibha Devi, added: “My husband is a laborer, and we had no money to build a house. Thanks to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, we now have a roof over our heads. Our family will now live happily under this roof for the rest of our lives.”
Launched on June 25, 2015, the PMAY is part of the government’s ambitious mission to provide housing for all in urban areas. The initiative offers central assistance to states and Union Territories to build homes for eligible families, with a target of constructing 1.12 crore houses. While the minimum size for a house under PMAY is set at 30 square meters, states have the flexibility to enhance this based on local needs.
(Inputs from IANS)
