GUWAHATI: The Centre has approved nearly ₹5,000 crore in housing assistance for flood-affected families in Assam under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), with 3.8 lakh houses sanctioned for the state.
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The approval was announced after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Tuesday, August 25.
Chouhan handed over the approval for the 3.8 lakh houses to Assam and said more houses would be sanctioned for flood-affected areas to help families whose homes were damaged in the floods.
The Centre has also extended the PMAY-G survey period by 15 days so that eligible flood-affected families can be included in the housing programme.
Eligible tea garden workers in Assam will also be covered under PMAY through a digital survey after they receive land pattas. The move will allow tea garden communities to access the housing scheme once land ownership is settled.
The meeting also covered the impact of the floods on agriculture and assistance for affected farmers.
Action plans worth ₹832.70 crore have been approved under the Agriculture Unnati Yojana and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for flood-affected farmers. The Centre has separately approved ₹33.36 crore for agricultural mechanisation and ₹96.87 crore under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
A sanction letter for another ₹139 crore under RKVY was also handed over to Assam to support agricultural investment and sustainable farming.
After the meeting, Chouhan said the Centre stood with the people of Assam and that the discussions focused on flood damage, farmers' concerns and rural development.
Sarma thanked the Union Minister and the Centre for the decisions on housing, rehabilitation, agriculture and rural development.
He said the approval of 3.8 lakh PMAY houses, involving nearly ₹5,000 crore, would provide support to families affected by the floods. He also welcomed the Centre's assurance of additional houses for flood-hit areas and housing support for tea garden workers.