Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the previous governments used to set their corrupt eyes on the money of the poor and underprivileged but after the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana the money was now going straight into the accounts of the beneficiaries.
“Before the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, only half of the fund was made available to the beneficiaries. Corruption was prevailing all around. After coming into power, the prime minister opened bank accounts through Jan Dhan Yojana. Now, the people's money has started going into their respective bank accounts,” the chief minister said while handing over the keys to 5.51 lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Rural (PMAY-G) and Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana-Rural (CMAY-G).
The keys were symbolically handed over to five beneficiaries of Ayodhya, Sonbhadra and Rae Bareli, while the other beneficiaries attended the programme through the virtual medium.
Yogi also interacted with some of the beneficiaries from various districts through video conferencing.
Underlining the efforts of his government in ensuring housing for all, the chief minister said that the realisation of the prime minister’s dream was visible.
“Within just four years, over 4.73 lakh houses have been made available to people in rural and urban areas. Today 5.51 lakh beneficiaries are entering their homes. I extend my congratulations and best wishes for this too,” he said,
Launching a scathing attack on the opposition, Yogi Adityanath said that about 42 lakh people were provided their own houses in four years of BJP governance. “If we look at the figures of the last 30 years, only 53 lakh people were able to get housing. The previous governments did not have the poor in its agenda. One should express gratitude to Modiji that he has connected the poor, farmers, youth, women with government schemes without any discrimination. Today, more than 27 lakh people are getting the benefits of the scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana” the chief minister said.
Coming down heavily on the previous regimes, Yogi further said that casteism, regionalism and nepotism obstructed the way of development in the state. “Today, the poor are moving towards development because, if a good government is elected, then the benefit of the government schemes will be passed on to every poor in every village sans discrimination,” he said.
Expressing happiness over the high number of female beneficiaries under the PMAY, the chief minister said that about 70 per cent of the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana were women. “Through this scheme, these women are on the path of becoming self-reliant,” he said.
Mentioning development in Lakhimpur district of Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister stated that a township was being developed in Londonpur of the district which was exemplary. Along with housing, the beneficiaries would get a cow protection centre, toilets, arrangement of roads, arrangement of parks for them, he added.
“The vision of Smart Village that Modiji has envisioned is being seen here. I congratulate all public representatives and beneficiaries for this. I would ask the district administration to build an open gymnasium in the park there. Children who want to participate in sports there will also get a platform from it,” he said.
At the same time, Yogi appreciated the then CDO Arvind Singh (currently vice chairman of Kanpur Development Authority) for the concept of this township and said that it was wonderful to have the PM/CM housing scheme in Londonpur as an integrated township.
Appreciating the work done by the Rural Development department, the chief minister asked officials concerned to connect all women with the self-help groups. Around 52 lakh women of the state were linked with the rural livelihood mission and were provided funds from the revolving fund.
Earlier, Rural Development Minister Rajendra Singh described the Pradhan Mantri/Chief Minister Awas Yojana as a revolution for the poor families.