Correct Answer : West Bengal
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been accusing the BJP government at the Centre of not sending funds to the state under PM Awas Yojana, on 17th Nov 2024 launched a housing scheme, ‘Banglar Bari’, funded entirely by her government.
At a function held at the state secretariat, Nabanna, the chief minister handed over the first installment of the scheme – Rs 60,000 — to 42 beneficiaries from 21 districts.
Speaking at the event, Banerjee said that over 28 lakh genuine beneficiaries have been identified in a survey conducted by the state for the scheme, for which Rs 1.2 lakh would be transferred to them by next December. She also said that 16 lakh more beneficiaries will be given housing allowance before the 2026 Assembly elections in the state.
She also added that the beneficiaries would get the money in two phases, adding that beneficiaries in some areas of Junglemahal and remote areas, would get 1.30 lakh rupees.
“My life is dedicated to working for people. Today, in the interest of the people of rural Bengal, I launched the ‘Banglar Bari’ project… The Centre had already surveyed around 36 lakh families. We also conducted one survey. A draft list was also published and their claims and objections were also verified. We could identify more than 28 lakh beneficiaries,” she said.
Accusing the Centre of not keeping its promises and not paying a single paisa for the ‘Awas Yojana’, the CM said: “The central government has deprived the poor people of the state of their dues for the past three years. We want our rights to be fulfilled, we are not beggars.”
The state will have to bear a total expense of Rs 14,773 crore for this purpose, she added. “If the Centre does not pay, we will pay the rest 16 lakh families. Out of these, we will pay to eight lakh people by May-June and the rest 8 lakh by December in two instalments,” Banerjee said, adding that there is a due of Rs 24,000 crore for this purpose from the Centre..
Source : Indian Express
