Jharkhand Housing Scheme Offers 1.31 Lakh Aid to Eligible ST Families

Eligible Scheduled Tribe families from economically weaker sections in rural Jharkhand can receive financial assistance of ₹1,31,500 under the state government's Birsa Awas Nirman Yojana to construct a permanent house, according to The Times of India.

The housing assistance is released in three instalments linked to different stages of construction. The first instalment of ₹40,000 is released after the house is approved. A second instalment of ₹75,000 follows after window sealing, while the final ₹16,500 is released after the house is completed, including painting.

Beneficiaries are required to complete construction within six months of receiving the first instalment. The scheme also provides an incentive for Panchayat Volunteers or Self-Help Groups involved in monitoring construction and ensuring quality and timely completion. They receive ₹500 per house in stages, with payments linked to the completion of the plinth, lintel, roofing and the entire house.

Who is eligible?

The scheme is specifically aimed at members of the Scheduled Tribe community in Jharkhand who belong to the economically weaker section. It is limited to residents of rural areas, meaning people living in urban areas are not covered under the scheme.

Applicants are required to provide an Aadhaar card, proof of residence, a caste certificate issued by a competent authority and a bank passbook while applying for assistance.

How to apply

Applications for the Birsa Awas Nirman Yojana are made offline. Applicants can visit their Panchayat office or a designated Welfare Department office during working hours and obtain the prescribed application form.

The completed form must be submitted along with copies of the required documents. Applicants are advised to self-attest documents wherever necessary and obtain a receipt or acknowledgement from the office. The acknowledgement should record the date and time of submission and, where applicable, a unique identification number.

Applicants can check the status of their application at the Panchayat office or through the welfare department's online portal, according to the Times of India report.

The scheme is designed to address the difficulty economically weaker rural ST families face in meeting the cost of permanent housing. By linking payments to construction milestones, the assistance is released as the house progresses from approval through completion.