Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on October 4 announced the release of the first installment of ₹3,600 crore for 3 lakh houses in Andhra Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) 2.0.
This announcement was made in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during an event in Burripalem village, Guntur district. Chauhan also laid the foundation stone for a ₹14-crore pilot project to construct 177 houses using 3D concrete printing technology. These houses are expected to be completed within six months; the technology aims to reduce construction time, labor requirements, and costs.
Chauhan stated that following Naidu’s request to provide permanent houses to poor families, the Centre has increased the initial housing allocation for Andhra Pradesh from 76,000 to 3 lakh houses. He added that further houses would be considered after the completion of the first phase.
Naidu stated that Andhra Pradesh requires approximately 9 lakh houses and thanked the Centre for increasing the allocation. He added that the state would continue to seek assistance for the remaining housing needs.
Emphasizing rural livelihoods, Chauhan stated that farmers in Andhra Pradesh could receive a total of ₹20,000 annually through the PM-KISAN scheme and the state’s ‘Annadata Sukhibhava’ scheme. He also noted that 2.3 million women in the state have become ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and that there is a target to increase this number to 6 million.
A national ‘SARAS Mela’ will also be organized in Andhra Pradesh from October 15, providing a platform for women-led self-help groups to showcase their products, reach a wider customer base, and create new livelihood opportunities.
(PIB)
