The Naveen Patnaik-led cabinet approved a new rural housing programme called “Mo Ghara” on Monday, marking the fourth anniversary of his current five-year tenure. This programme is aimed at individuals who are excluded from federal and state housing programmes.
Prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, which are scheduled for less than a year from now, the government wants to strategically invest Rs 2,150 crore over the next two years to assist four lakh families through the scheme. Beginning on June 16, the application process will be open.
The lower income and lower middle income group of families, with monthly income below Rs 25,000, who were excluded from the existing housing schemes due to strict eligibility requirements or due to insufficient allocation, will benefit from the new scheme, according to panchayati raj minister Pradip Amat in a statement to the media following the cabinet’s approval of the plan. The government is dedicated to converting abandoned kutcha homes into pucca homes, he said.
According to him, the new programme is also available to families that previously got housing assistance of a smaller amount and are looking to upgrade or extend their homes.
Under the credit linked scheme with capital subsidy, eligible recipients may obtain loans up to Rs 3 lakh that are entirely financed from the state budget. For varied loan amounts starting at Rs 1 lakh, the government will bear interest in the range of Rs 30,000 to Rs 70,000. Vulnerable groups like SCs, STs, and households headed by disabled people will receive larger subsidies.
While banks won’t charge processing fees for “Mo Ghara” loan approval, the government will forgo the registration and stamp duties necessary for titling deed mortgage as well as refund applicants for legal consulting fees up to a maximum of Rs 1000 per.
For a loan under this programme, the applicant must have a clear title to their homestead land and must put down a minimum of 10% of the loan amount in the form of cash, in-kind contributions, or labour.
The BJP and BJD are engaged in a heated political contest over housing aid, with both parties fervently touting their accomplishments in an effort to win voters’ support. Presently, in addition to the state’s Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana, Pucca Ghar Yojana (Mining), and Nirman Shramik Pucca Ghar Yojana, residents in villages receive housing assistance through the federal programme Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Grameen). According to official statistics, a total of 30.13 lakh homes have been constructed under these programmes.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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