Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday wrote Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking allocation of funds for housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

Baghel sought assistance for 6,99,439 families currently on the permanent waiting list for housing as well as an additional 47,090 families identified in the Chhattisgarh government's socio-economic survey 2023.

The Chief Minister said his government has decided to release the state's share to provide housing benefits to these families.

Earlier, in a letter dated July 3, the state government requested allocation of targets for 8,19,999 families under Awas Plus, in addition to the 6,99,439 families on the permanent waiting list.

Furthermore, it was communicated that the Centre had withdrawn the target of 7,81,999 houses allocated to Chhattisgarh for 2021-22.

As of today, there has been no response from the Central government regarding the requests made by Chhattisgarh, Baghel said.

He highlighted that based on the 2011 census data the Indian government created a permanent waiting list. In 2018, they compiled the Awas Plus list, which included 8,18,989 eligible families in addition to those on the permanent waiting list.

He also pointed out that the Centre conducts a socio-economic and caste census/BPL survey every 10 years, which has not yet been carried out. The Chief Minister said his government conducted a socio-economic survey in 2023 based on the parameters of the socio-economic and caste census 2011, identifying a total of 47,090 homeless families. Keeping this in view, the state had decided to allocate funds of its share to build houses for 6,99,438 families on the permanent waiting list and the 47,090 homeless families identified in the 2023 survey as part of the housing scheme.