Punjab Government on Tuesday provided a major relief to the beneficiaries of ‘Shehri Awaas Yojna’ by providing relaxation to those not having permanent residence proof.
The state Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said that now, copy of tax assessment, electricity, water or sewerage bill can be submitted as the proof of residence.
The relief granted would benefit 30,000 beneficiaries directly who were to be bereft of deriving the benefits entailed under the ‘Housing For All’ scheme in the absence of permanent residence proof.
“It has been decided to give this relief in order to provide maximum possible benefit to the urban poor as well as sorting out the problems being faced by the beneficiaries under the ‘Shehri Awaas Yojna’,” said Sidhu.
He said that those beneficiaries who live in the ‘kuchcha houses’ and under the Lal Dora (red line) area and who don’t have any proof of permanent residence, can now produce or submit the copy of tax assessment. “In case that is not available, any document out of the electricity bill or sewerage bill or water bill, after verification by the councillor, can be submitted for availing the benefits entailed under the scheme,” he said.
Sidhu said that the Joint Commissioners or EOs concerned have been empowered in this regard to provide the benefits to the beneficiaries. Earlier, it was mandatory to furnish proof of permanent residence.
“For those who have not yet applied under the scheme, the State Government has decided to go in for conducting a new survey starting from February 15 to ensure that the benefit accrues to maximum number of poor families. Those otherwise eligible under the scheme but couldn’t apply owing to the absence of permanent residence proof, can now apply after this relief,” he said.