Punjab's homeless freedom fighters to get houses: Cabinet

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today gave his nod to a proposal under which the state's homeless freedom fighters and their families, with annual income less than Rs 3 lakh will get free accommodation, officials said.

A cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of the chief minister decided that the Punjab Pendu Awaas Yojna (PPAY) will be implemented in a phased manner and in the first phase, eligible freedom fighters, followed by applicants found eligible under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (Gramin) with annual family income up to Rs 1.2 lakh will be covered.

In the second phase, to be undertaken after a year, applicants with an annual family income from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 3 lakh would be covered, they said.

It has been clarified under the scheme that a married houseless/landless son(s) living in joint family, but having separate electricity connection or ration card, would be eligible to avail benefits under the scheme, an official said.

Revealing further details of the scheme, the officials said beneficiaries would be given Rs 1.20 lakh each by the state government, besides 90 man-days or labour, provided in convergence with MGNREGA.

In addition, a toilet would be constructed in the house at a cost of Rs 12,000 under the MGNREGA/Swachh Bharat Mission, the official said adding that the house will be of about 25 square metres with one room, kitchen and a toilet, they said.

Additionally, industrialists would be encouraged to contribute under corporate social responsibility for this scheme. NRIs and the general public would also be motivated to contribute, they added.

The government, in its maiden meeting in March 2017, had taken significant decisions to provide free built-up houses to eligible homeless SC/OBC families, they said.