Guwahati, July 14: Assam has completed the construction of 22 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) and plans to build another two lakh homes within the next 100 days, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Atul Bora said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, Bora said the state was expecting additional allocations under the Centre’s rural housing scheme. “We have already completed 22 lakh PMAY-Gramin houses till today, and we plan to complete another two lakh within 100 days,” he said.
The minister said the Centre had responded positively to Assam’s request for more housing units following the state government’s decision to grant land ownership rights to 3.5 lakh tea garden workers.
“We are expecting more allocations, and they have agreed to give more houses because the Assam government has decided to grant land deeds (pattas) to 3,50,000 tea garden workers. We decided to provide them with PMAY houses as well,” Bora said.
To address the shortage of skilled workers for rural housing construction, the state government launched the Lakhimi Mistri scheme to train women in masonry and construction work.
Bora said 5,000 women had already been trained under the programme, while another 5,000 were set to receive training. He added that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also announced uniforms for Lakhimi Mistris in recognition of their contribution to the state’s rural housing programme.
