The Baleswar district has been adjudged to receive awards from the Union Ministry of Rural Development for its significant endeavour in implementing the scheme under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY)-G.
In implementation of housing scheme under the PMAY, while Odisha has emerged has number one in India, the districts which have been selected to receive the award in recognition to their contributions include Sambalpur, Balangir , Mayurbhanj , Sundargarh, Ganjam and Baleswar.
According to sources, the felicitation ceremony while would be held in the Vigyan Bhawan New Delhi on Monday ( June 19) , the district Collectors have been invited to attend the function.
It may be noted about two years ago, the Baleswar district’s rank was 29 among 30 districts of the State in implementing the rural housing scheme under PMAY-G.
“With the support and cooperation of line officials and elected representatives, we could achieve the feat. I have been invited to attend the felicitation ceremony to be held in New Delhi,” said Baleswar district Collector Pramod Das.
It is pertinent to be mentioned here, Odisha while has emerged as number one in implementing the PMAY-G for the fiscal year 2016-17, the second slot has gone to Telengana and third position is shared by Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
In March 2016, the Union Cabinet had approved to replace the existing Indira Awas Yojana with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin as a part of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022 Mission.
Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided for construction of dwelling units and up- gradations of existing unserviceable kutcha houses for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and non-SC/ST rural families living below the poverty line in rural areas.
A minimum of 60 per cent of the funds under the scheme is earmarked for assistance to SC/ST families living below the poverty line. The unit assistance is Rs 1,20,000 in plain areas and Rs 1,30,000 in hilly States, difficult areas and IAP districts.