Latest news with #PuducherryLegislativeAssembly
New Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Puducherry launches integrated housing scheme 2.0 to build 22,500 homes for EWS
PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government on Thursday launched an integrated housing scheme 2.0 by merging the centre's Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - 2.0[PMAY] with its own Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Housing Scheme with an ambitious target of constructing 22,500 houses over the next five years for economically weaker sections (EWS) in the Union Territory. Under the scheme, each eligible beneficiary will receive financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for constructing fully-equipped homes. Of this, Rs 2.25 lakh will be provided by the centre and Rs 2.75 lakh by the Puducherry government. An order has been issued to provide the full amount of Rs 5 lakh to homeless individuals belonging to the general and other backward classes who own land. To avail the benefits, the beneficiary must have completed the foundation-level construction of their house. The first instalment of Rs 1 lakh will be released from the UT's share once construction begins. Chief Minister N Rangaswamy officially released the application forms for the enhanced housing assistance at the Chief Minister's Office in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly on Thursday. Preference will be given to those who were not covered under the previous Prime Minister's Housing Scheme (Urban) - 1.0 and to those who have already completed foundation-level work under the earlier scheme. Eligible land-owning homeless individuals can apply for assistance under the integrated scheme. Application forms are available at the offices of the Puducherry Slum Clearance Board. Forms can also be downloaded from the Town and Country Planning Department website at and online applications can be submitted through the centre's PMAY portal at
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Puducherry LoP slams CM for skipping NITI Aayog meeting
PUDUCHERRY: Leader of the Opposition in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly, R Siva, has lashed out at Chief Minister N Rangasamy for failing to attend the recent NITI Aayog meeting, one of the few avenues available for smaller regions like Puducherry to highlight their demands and secure much-needed support from the central government. He expressed dismay over the Chief Minister's absence, especially when key issues such as the drastic reduction in Puducherry's share of Union funds - from 70 per cent to just 25 per cent - needed urgent attention. He compared Rangasamy's decision with that of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who, despite political differences with the centre, participated in the meeting with the hope of securing benefits for his state. Siva noted that the Chief Minister missed an opportunity to personally raise several longstanding issues with the Prime Minister, including the delay in releasing Puducherry's GST dues, the lack of support for critical infrastructure projects like the new Legislative Assembly building and the Smart City initiative, and the continued closure of the three spinning mills which were once a lifeline for local employment. He also pointed out the absence of a 25 percent internal quota for Puducherry students in central institutions such as JIPMER and Puducherry Central University, as well as the Union government's pressure on the Puducherry administration to fully fund centrally-sponsored schemes despite limited financial capacity. He further stressed that the Chief Minister should have used the platform to seek a waiver or sharing of interest on Puducherry's long-term debt of Rs 11,500 crore. Siva added that this meeting could have been the right moment for the Chief Minister to reiterate his party's long-standing demand for statehood, a matter which has seen repeated resolutions in the Assembly.
