Archive · 6 Aug 2026
West Bengal renames Banglar Bari scheme to Paschim Banga Awas
The government of West Bengal, a state in India, runs a programme to help poor families build their own homes.
Under this programme, families receive money in parts, called instalments, to construct their houses.
The first part of the money was given out in April, before the state elections.
Now the government has said that starting on August 6, it will give the second part of the money to 10 lakh families.
A lakh is one hundred thousand, so 10 lakh means one million families.
Before giving the money, officials checked on every family to make sure they were really building their houses properly.
Only families whose houses were built up to the lintel level, the part above the doors and windows, can get the second payment now.
About 8 lakh other families will get their money later, once they finish building their homes to that stage.
The checking happened because some people who were not eligible had received the first payment before.
The programme also got a new name: it was called 'Banglar Bari' and is now called 'Paschim Banga Awas'.
The West Bengal government renamed its state-funded rural housing scheme from 'Banglar Bari' to 'Paschim Banga Awas'.
Starting August 6, the second instalment of financial assistance will be released to 10 lakh beneficiary families, launched by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna Sabhaghar.
Only beneficiaries who completed construction up to the lintel level using the first instalment qualify; around 8 lakh of the 18 lakh sanctioned families have not yet met this stage.
The first instalment of Rs 60,000 was paid before the April assembly elections, and the second remained pending after the change of government.
A fresh verification followed past complaints about fake and ineligible beneficiaries; officials say the scheme is state-funded, though one article notes former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had renamed the central Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as 'Banglar Bari'.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government, the beneficiary families, and Panchayat Secretary P. Ulaganathan, who supervised the special survey.
- What
- The rural housing scheme 'Banglar Bari' was renamed 'Paschim Banga Awas', and the second instalment of financial assistance will be released to 10 lakh eligible families; beneficiaries with cases pending before the SIR tribunal will receive assistance if found eligible.
- When
- The decision was announced on August 5, with transfers starting August 6; the first instalment was released in April before the assembly elections.
- Where
- West Bengal, India; the launch programme will be held at Nabanna Sabhaghar in Kolkata, adjacent to the state secretariat.
- Why
- To ensure funds reach genuine beneficiaries after past complaints about fake and ineligible beneficiaries; the second instalment had been pending since the change of government from the Trinamool Congress-led administration.
- Old Scheme Name
- Banglar Bari
- New Scheme Name
- Paschim Banga Awas
- Eligible for Second Instalment
- 10 lakh families
- Total Sanctioned Beneficiaries
- 18 lakh families
- Beneficiaries Yet to Qualify
- Around 8 lakh families
- Eligibility Criterion
- Construction completed up to lintel level
- First Instalment Amount
- Rs 60,000 of Rs 1,20,000 total grant per family
- Second Instalment Start Date
- August 6
