For a poor family, a pucca house is more than a roof over their heads. It protects them from rain, heat and cold, gives children a safer environment and brings a sense of security that temporary shelter cannot provide. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has made this basic need a reality for many families in Chhattisgarh, both in villages and cities.
In rural areas, the scheme has approved homes for more than 26 lakh families. Of these, construction of about 11.78 lakh houses has been completed. The first Cabinet had approved 18.12 lakh houses, while a new Awas Plus 2.0 survey has brought Chhattisgarh a target of nearly 3.65 lakh additional houses from the Centre. Special provisions have also been made for surrendered Naxalites and Naxal-affected families.
The impact of a permanent house is visible in everyday life. Families who once lived in damaged or unsafe homes faced leaking roofs, damp walls and insecurity during the monsoon. A pucca house reduces these hardships and allows a family to focus on education, health and livelihood. When combined with clean drinking water, electricity, toilets and cooking gas, housing becomes part of a wider improvement in living standards.
Urban housing has also seen substantial progress. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), 2.22 lakh of the 2.43 lakh approved houses have been completed. Under the urban 2.0 phase, 71,416 houses have been approved, of which 4,129 are complete and 25,165 are under construction. These numbers show progress, but they also point to the work that remains.
The success of a housing scheme cannot be measured by approvals alone. A house must be well built, completed on time and handed over to the right beneficiary. Transparent surveys, fair selection and timely release of funds are essential. Beneficiaries should also receive support during construction so that delays do not leave families waiting for years.
A permanent home gives a family dignity and stability. It is the base from which children can study, adults can work and families can plan for the future. As Chhattisgarh moves towards its remaining housing targets, the focus must remain on quality, accountability and timely delivery. That is how a housing scheme can become a lasting instrument of social and economic change.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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