West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee handed over certificates to the beneficiaries of Banglar Bari Yojana in Kolkata on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: ANI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched the “Bangalar Bari” scheme to provide housing for the rural poor of the state.
Ms. Banerjee released funds to 42 beneficiaries in 21 districts and more than 12 lakh beneficiaries in the state are eligible for the first installment.
The launch of the scheme is significant as Ms Banerjee had announced before the Lok Sabha elections that the West Bengal government would go ahead with its own scheme if the Center did not release funds for the PM Awas Yojana.
Release of funds for central schemes in West Bengal has emerged as a political issue, with the Chief Minister launching similar schemes and releasing funds to the beneficiaries after the central government failed to release the money.
Under the scheme, a family will be given a total of ₹1.20 lakh to build a house, of which ₹60,000 in the first installment. However, the beneficiaries of some areas of Jangalmahal and Darjeeling hills will get Rs 1.30 lakh.
Speaking at the launch of the scheme, the Chief Minister said that in 2025, additional 1.8 lakh beneficiaries will be given the benefits of this scheme.
“We are yet to receive Rs 24,000 crore from the Centre. But I said that we did not ask for any alms. If the Center does not release funds we will be under our own scheme,” Ms Banerjee said.
The Chief Minister said that the number of beneficiaries has been increased from 1.1 million to 1.2 million by conducting a new survey of the list of beneficiaries. The movement started early this year after the state government released the first list of beneficiaries.
Ms. Banerjee also said that the Center has not released funds for MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employees Act), and the state government has started its own scheme to provide employment for 50 days under the scheme.
Funds under MGNREGA have been withheld from December 2021 on grounds of “corruption in the scheme”, creating a widespread crisis in the state.
published – December 18, 2024 at 01:04 pm IST