Kolkata, 9 January (H.S.): The West Bengal government has announced that all houses constructed under the rural Awas Yojana will now feature the state government's official logo. The Panchayat and Rural Development Department has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to district administrations, detailing guidelines for implementing this initiative.The scheme aims to provide housing for economically weaker sections, with a minimum size of 25 square meters per house. Beneficiaries are required to complete construction within one year of receiving the financial grant.In a groundbreaking move, the state government will also provide land to landless beneficiaries. Suitable government land will be identified, and ownership rights (pattas) will be granted to those without any land. This initiative ensures that even the most underprivileged families can have both land and a home.Each house will include a toilet under the Nirmal Bangla project. The Public Health Engineering Department will be responsible for providing water supply, while electricity connections will be arranged through WBSEDCL. The government is also ensuring the availability of affordable construction materials like cement, bricks, and iron through local dealers and markets.Once the construction is complete, surveyors will inspect the houses, take photographs, and geotag the locations. Block-level officers will then approve the houses based on these reports. Beneficiary families will also be integrated into the Anandadhara scheme to enhance their quality of life and economic self-reliance.

Hindusthan Samachar / SP Singh