3 weeks ago

Bengal govt disburses Rs 6,000 crore to rural housing beneficiaries

Many families in West Bengal, India, needed help to build their houses.

The government promised each family Rs 1,20,000, paid in two parts.

The first part, Rs 60,000, was given to families on December 25.

But then they had to wait for about eight months for the second part.

On Thursday, the government finally sent the second part of Rs 60,000 to more than 10,20,000 families.

In total, that was more than Rs 6,000 crore of money sent directly to their bank accounts.

The Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, started the event and gave the scheme a new name, Paschim Banga Awas.

The government checked the list of families and found about 12,500 people who were not really eligible.

It has begun getting the money back from those people and says no genuine family will be left out.

Families who still need to be checked will get their money later, once the verification is done.

Key facts

Amount disbursed: Over Rs 6,000 crore
Beneficiaries paid: 10,20,389 (more than 10.20 lakh)
Per-beneficiary instalment: Rs 60,000 via Direct Benefit Transfer
First instalment: Rs 60,000 on December 25 under the erstwhile Banglar Bari scheme
Full assistance per beneficiary: Rs 1.20 lakh
Scheme name: Renamed Paschim Banga Awas (formerly Banglar Bari)
Ineligible recipients: Around 12,500 identified; recovery underway
Verification deadline: August 15 (extended by the Union government)

thestatesman.com · 3 weeks ago