By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar has demanded 6 lakh houses for Bihar under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). To discuss this, Kumar met Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in Delhi and submitted a demand letter outlining the department’s schemes. Additionally, he requested an increase in the wage rate for MGNREGA workers.
Beyond the request for 6 lakh PMAY houses and higher MGNREGA wages, Kumar has several other significant demands. He called for a new survey to be conducted for families left out due to the completion of a five-year SC/ST category survey in the financial year 2018-19. He also demanded the prompt payment of funds from the Center to complete incomplete houses under the Indira Awas Yojana.
In a major move to support farmers, Kumar requested the inclusion of agricultural work on private land, such as paddy plantation and Rabi crop cultivation, under the category of estimable works in MGNREGA.
Kumar also sought the construction of boundary walls under the MGNREGA scheme for the security of premises such as Anganwadi Centres, State Primary Health Centres, and Additional Primary Health Centres built for children under Panchayat Government Buildings and the Social Welfare Department.
Previously, the Bihar government has alleged that the targets set for housing construction under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are too low and that funds are not received on time. Following the meeting, Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar stated that Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has assured him that all demands related to the schemes will be addressed.
