Jharkhand has excelled in the Central government’s much ambitious flagship rural housing programme. The State has stood second in Prime Minister Awas Yojana(rural) fetching 94.82 marks. Chhattisgarh the other non-BJP ruled State presently run by Bhupesh Bhgael of Congress is in top securing 95.35 per cent. The ranking is done on the basis of State performance during lockdown.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has praised the rural development department saying that in difficult situations too if there is zeal and determination to do well no obstacles will come on way. Soren said the State government’s performance in executing work under the PM Awas scheme is an indicator of the government's dedication towards rural development works.
A senior rural development department official said, “Work under PM Awas scheme was a major source of employment generation at rural areas during lockdown. Large number of migrant labourers was provided work through the PM Awas scheme. The better work execution helped in reaching the target. ”
The official claimed that apart from providing work under PM Awas scheme, the Jharkhand also launched three new schemes for the State on 4 May, in association with MGNREGA for providing employability to migrant population.
These schemes included, ‘Birsa Harit Gram Yojana’, ‘Nilamber-Pitamber Jal Samridhi Yojana’, and ‘Veer Shahid Poto Ho Khel Vikas Yojna’ aim at increasing the employment rate of Jharkhand.
Sources said that the major pace in executing work gained momentum in the past fortnight. The Jharkhand by securing second position in executing work under PM Awas scheme has toppled Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar too. These states too in the past one month had witnessed a major influx of migrant population and the governments in these states are looking at various ways to provide employability to migrant workers. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Mission launched on 25th June 2015 which intends to provide housing for all in urban areas by year 2022.
The scheme not only provides rebates on housing schemes to economically poor but also to those having annual income less than Rs 18 lakh. If a person takes a loan of Rs 30 lakh for 240 months then as per PM Awas scheme he will get a waiver of Rs 2.30 lakh.
However, sources said that the scheme is suffering financial setbacks as cash-strapped state governments have refused to release their share of funds. At least nine states have not released their requisite share to the tune of Rs. 2,915.21 cr for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), which aims to replace all ‘kutcha’ or makeshift houses with permanent ones in rural India.