24,827 beneficiaries of Kolhan get Rs 30,000 through DBT
First instalment of Abua Awas Yojana released
Jamshedpur, February 9: Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Friday alleged that ED is working at the behest of a political party.
Addressing a function to mark distribution of funds to beneficiaries of Abua Awas Yojana (a state government scheme to provide houses for rural homeless) at Gopal Maidan in Jamshedpur, Champai Soren, said that Enforcement Directorate (ED) is working at the behest of a political party (read BJP).
“If this is not stopped, democracy will be in danger. But despite all these conspiracies, our alliance stands strong and will defeat the conspiracies of BJP,” said Soren.
Incidentally, his predecessor and former chief minister Hemant Soren was arrested by ED on January 31 night forcing him to resign leading to Champai Soren taking over the reign after swearing in on February 2.
Stressing on continuing the good works of Hemant Soren, Champai Soren said that the state government took the decision of Abua Awas Yojana when the Center stopped giving money for PM Awas Yojana depriving over 8 lakh beneficiaries.
“It was then that Hemant Soren decided to provide three room accommodation to our homeless people which is better than the PM Awas Yojana.. Model schools were created so that they could get better education. Every girl child is getting the benefit of the scheme started in the name of Savitri Bai Phule. Tribal and indigenous children of Jharkhand were sent abroad to study,” he said, heaping praise on Hemant Soren.
He promised to fulfill the unfinished works of Hemant Soren.
Champai Soren claimed that bills of 30 lakh electricity consumers will become zero. Earlier, Hemant Soren had made 100 units of electricity free. Because of this, electricity bills of 21 lakh consumers have become zero. Now 125 units of free electricity will be given.
He also accused the Central Government of giving step-motherly treatment to Jharkhand and alleged that Ayushman card holders are not treated in private hospitals in Jharkhand as the central government does not give money to the hospitals.
Earlier, Champai Soren transferred Rs 74.48 crore to 24,827 beneficiaries of Kolhan region as the first installment of the Abua Awas (housing) Yojana.
The CM also handed over the letters of acceptance to the beneficiaries which included 8,138 families from East Singhbhum district, 10,252 from West Singhbhum district and 6,437 families from Seraikela-Kharswan district.
Each beneficiary got Rs 30,000 as first installment through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), an official said.
Of 2,92,624 applications received for the scheme from Kolhan region, 1,05,810 beneficiaries are from East Singhbhum district, 1,03,319 (West Singhbhum district) and 83,495 families (Seraikela-Kharswn district).
Former health minister Banna Gupta (Congress MLA from Jamshedpur West), who was also present on the occasion, accused the BJP of trying to destabilise the state government ever since Hemant Soren was elected four years ago.
“They (BJP) always tried to divide the society based on caste and creed besides attempting to impose President’s Rule in the state,” Gupta claimed.
Former CM Hemant Soren had launched the Abua Awas scheme on November 15 to provide houses to homeless as well as those who were deprived of the benefit under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Under the scheme, beneficiaries will be given a total of Rs 2 lakh in four installments for construction of three-room houses.
The scheme also has provision for assistance to build toilets under Swach Bharat Mission Rural or through convergence of any other dedicated sources.
