Andhra Pradesh government sanctions 2 lakh houses for rural poor

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned two lakh houses for the rural poor of Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced today.

Government will provide a subsidy of Rs 1.50 lakh for SCs and STs and Rs 1.10 lakh for OBCs for the houses, measuring 270 sq feet each, while the remaining amount will be paid by the beneficiaries, Naidu said while addressing TDP's special executive committee meeting here.

On the occasion, he said the government is also contemplating on bringing a new housing scheme for the urban poor with help of subsidy and bank loan facility.

The poor population who have encroached government lands and constructed houses on it will be allowed to regularise to the extent of 80 sq feet for each family, the chief minister said.

He reiterated government's commitment for welfare of farmers, women, senior citizens, widows and physically- challenged, and said the government has paid Rs 24,000 to reimburse the farmers' crop loans in banks as first installment.

Government has also paid Rs 10,000 to women engaged in Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWACRA) to clear their pending interests on bank loans.

A total of Rs 5,000 crore a year is being spent under social pension schemes, he added.

Union Ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y S Chowdary, TDP MPs, MLAs and other party functionaries also attended the meeting.