Port Blair, Feb 04: In a significant step towards realising the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s dream of ‘Housing for All by 2022’, the Department of Rural Development, A&N Administration has been persistently implementing the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin, the flagship scheme of the Government of India across the Islands. The scheme aims at providing a pucca house with basic amenities inclusive of a hygienic cooking space, functional toilet to the houseless and those living in kutcha houses. Under PMAY-G, beneficiaries are provided unit assistance of Rs.1.2 lakh along with 90 mandays of unskilled labour through convergence with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Additionally, an incentive of Rs.12000/- for construction of toilets through convergence with Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin (SBM-G) is also provided to the beneficiaries.

In the UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the Department of Rural Development aims to provide 1554 beneficiaries with all-weather resistant pucca houses equipped with all modern amenities like water, LPG, toilet and electricity supply. 513 beneficiaries have already completed the construction of their houses.

The beneficiaries have expressed their heart-felt gratitude to the Administration for helping them to realise the dream of owning a pucca house. One of the beneficiaries of Beodnabad Gram Panchayat Shri Viswanathan, who now owns a house under the scheme is a private labourer and is managing his family’s livelihood with Rs.8000/- per month. He had a house in a very decrepit condition and sanctioned a house under PMAY(G), during the financial year 2020-21. He completed the construction of house in a very short period with the assistance provided under PMAY-G, work of 90 man-days under MGNREGS and his own resources.

The scheme is being implemented to promote a coactive partnership between the public and the Government. Furthermore, the construction activity under the scheme has had a huge impact on the other sectors of the economy with a multiplier effect in employment generation.

This housing scheme will play a critical role in nurturing well-being of people in the rural areas by providing safe and secure environment especially for women and children. The Department of RD has undertaken this drive in a mission mode to expedite the process of construction of houses in a well-planned manner