Hyderabad: The State government is committed to helping the underprivileged fulfill their dream of owning a house, said Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. He emphasized that the government is ready to accept various conditions set by the Central government to make this possible for the poor.
During an informal discussion with the media at the Secretariat on Saturday, the Minister explained the importance of the housing scheme. He said that Telangana is the only state in the country offering a Rs 5 lakh scheme to assist the poor who already own land. He shared that the Central government is willing to contribute Rs 1–1.25 lakh per house, but the State is asking for more support. He also mentioned that the State is ready to follow the guidelines suggested by the Centre. “We are accepting all the conditions for the sake of the poor,” the Minister said.
The Minister further explained that under this scheme, Rs 5 lakh will be provided to poor families through a ‘green channel,’ and payments will be made directly to their bank accounts. In the first phase, the government aims to help families living in huts or shanties by providing money in installments as the construction progresses. The installments will be divided as Rs 1 lakh for the foundation, Rs 1.25 lakh for building the walls, Rs 1.75 lakh for the roof slab, and the remaining Rs 1 lakh for completing the house.
He also assured that the payment process would be carefully monitored to avoid any misuse of funds or materials. The beneficiaries will be chosen by gram sabhas (village committees) and supported by 16 different government departments under a single umbrella. Eligibility will be determined using a special app that conducts a 360-degree assessment.
The Minister added that the process of identifying eligible beneficiaries will begin by November 5th or 6th. To qualify, families must own at least 400 square feet of land. In the second phase of the program, those without any land will be considered for assistance.
