Odisha Govt to build houses for 12.5 lakh construction workers

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 20:

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched the ‘Nirman Shramik Pucca Ghar Yojana’ — that offers pucca housing for 12.5 lakh registered construction workers of the state living in rural areas.

As per information provided by the Chief Minister’s Office, the scheme will facilitate 50,000 pucca houses to 50,000 workers at a cost of Rs 500 crore this year itself.

Under this scheme, the State Government would provide Rs 1 lakh assistance to registered construction workers for construction of pucca houses. Construction workers registered with ‘Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board’ for minimum three years, and aged between 18 and 60 years, are eligible to get the grant to build houses on their own land.

However, workers that have benefited from other housing schemes or have their own pucca house could not apply. The Labour Department of the State Government would provide Rs 1 lakh assistance to the Panchayati Raj Department after it verifies and confirms the beneficiaries.

“About 12.5 lakh workers have been registered with the board so far. Out of them, about 2.5 lakh workers have received housing benefit at a cost of Rs 90 crore. The real owner of the welfare boards are the workers. I urge them to take the benefits of this scheme,” said Patnaik while launching the scheme.

Besides, the Chief Minister announced that the State Government would open 30 training centres in 30 districts to train the workers in order to enhance their skills. He also promised to provide a special card to the workers working in unorganised sector so that they can benefit from the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

Further, Patnaik informed that the State Government has made a helpline functional for migrant workers and has signed up agreements with Odia Associations of Vizag, Bangalore and Chennai to ensure hassle free stay of Odia workers there.