3 days ago
State to provide pucca houses to vulnerable tribal families
Patna: The state govt on Tuesday approved a plan to provide permanent houses with modern amenities to members of nine particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), in a bid to uplift their socio-economic conditions.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by CM Nitish Kumar.
Briefing the media, additional chief secretary (cabinet secretariat) S Siddhartha said, "The cabinet approved the proposal of the rural development department to provide pucca houses, with modern amenities, to nine PVTGs living in 10 districts of Bihar under the PM-JANMAN."
Hours later, deputy CM Samrat Choudhary issued a statement reaffirming the state's commitment.
"Providing permanent houses to 1,308 families of the PVTGs under the PM-JANMAN is among the top priorities of the state govt," he said.
He added that the welfare department for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes had identified eligible families from the Asur, Birhor, Birajia, Hilkharia, Korwa, Malpaharia, Parhaiya, Sauryapaharia and Saur tribes in 10 districts – Banka, Kaimur, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Katihar, Kishanganj, Madhepura, Nawada, Purnia and Supaul.
Choudhary said that, unlike the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), which provides Rs 1.2 lakh in three instalments, PM-JANMAN beneficiaries will receive Rs 2 lakh in four equal instalments. The first Rs 50,000 will be released after house approval, followed by further payments upon reaching the plinth, lintel, and roof completion stages.
"In addition to Rs 2 lakh, each beneficiary will receive around Rs 27,000 as wages under MGNREGA and Rs 12,000 for toilet construction under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Thus, each family will receive a total financial support of Rs 2.39 lakh," he said.
