Port Blair, Dec 3: The Department of Rural Development, A&N Administration has been relentlessly implementing the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin, the flagship scheme of the Government of India across the Islands since its inception by providing a pucca house with basic amenities inclusive of a hygienic cooking space to the houseless with financial assistance of Rs.1.2 lakh along with 90 person days of unskilled labour wage amounting to Rs. 24,030/- through convergence with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Additionally, an incentive of Rs.12,000 for construction of toilets through convergence with Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin (SBM-G) is also provided to the beneficiaries.
Out of the target 1337 beneficiaries, the Department has already constructed 965 houses. 372 beneficiaries have been provided installments are in various stages of construction of their houses and a large number of them are expected to complete the house by December 2021.
One beneficiary Shri Simon Kujur had a very dilapidated kutcha house in Bamboo Nallah, Rutland. He is a farmer by profession and earning his livelihood by farming. He has two daughters and two sons. Under PMAY(G), he was sanctioned a house in the financial year 2020-21. He completed the construction of house in a very short period with the assistance provided under PMAY-G, 90 person-days’ work under MGNREGA and his own resources amounting to Rs.3.00 lakhs despite all odds of COVID lockdown. He expressed his gratitude towards the Department of Rural Development for providing him 50 sq mtr land and financial assistance of under PMAY (G) for construction of the house. He cheerfully expressed that earlier his children had to stay away from family in Ashram within city limits for education purpose. At least now after the construction of his new house in Kodiyaghat, they will all get to stay together.
It has been noticed that there has been a huge boost in the feeling of Social Status, Self-worth, Confidence Level, Sense of Ownership, Feeling of Safety & Security, Improvement in Health, Overall Quality of Life, and Satisfaction after construction of New Houses of the beneficiaries.
At this stage of implementation, it is worth to note that the scheme is now playing a vital role in fostering security, welfare and social well-being of the rural populace by providing safe, stable and secure atmospheres for them and especially women, children and other vulnerable groups too.
The RD department expects to reach a total completion of 1000 houses by the end of this year.