Three lakh welfare houses handed over to beneficiaries in Andhra

    Rayachoti (Andhra Pradesh), Nov 12 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday virtually handed over three lakh welfare houses to beneficiaries across the state.
    The chief minister virtually launched the housewarming ceremony for the beneficiaries.
    "Three lakh houses were handed over. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu virtually inaugurated three lakh houses from Rayachoti," said an official release.
    Later, in a public meeting, the CM handed over keys and energy-saving materials to a few beneficiaries.
    Further, he also provided permits to a few beneficiaries to build houses on their own plots.
    According to an official release, the TDP-led government promised in its election manifesto to complete three lakh houses in 17 months and is now handing over the keys to the beneficiaries.
    Out of the three lakh houses, over 2.28 lakh houses were built under PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme, 65,292 (PMAY Grameen) and 6,866 (PMAY Janman), the release said.
    "The NDA government is committed to provide houses to the poor and as part of it, constructed three lakh houses in 17 months' time," it said.
    In his address, Naidu alleged that the previous YSRCP government "destroyed the poor man's dream of owning a home by canceling 4.73 lakh houses and leaving dues of Rs 900 crore to 2.73 lakh beneficiaries."
    The NDA government will clear pending dues and ensure houses are completed with all basic amenities such as drinking water, electricity, drainage, roads, gas, solar power and internet access, he said.
    The CM also announced additional support of Rs 50,000 for Muslim families for house construction, besides the existing aid for SCs, STs, BCs, and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
    He said around six lakh people who could not complete construction earlier would now receive assistance, benefiting over 3.73 lakh BCs, 1.57 lakh SCs, 46,000 STs, and 22,000 tribal families at a cost of Rs 3,220 crore.
    He reiterated that the TDP-led government aims to link major rivers to make Andhra Pradesh a "drought-free state".
    "River interlinking is my life's mission, and we are taking firm steps toward realising the Swarna (golden) Andhra Vision," he added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)