Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with residents of Sabar Sahi slum in Gadakana area of Bhubaneswar during his day trip to Odisha on Tuesday. Soon after landing at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in the city, the Prime Minister proceeded to Gadakana village to interact with beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Modi was accorded a rousing welcome at the airport. A large number of people lined up on both sides of the road leading to Gadakana to welcome and greet Modi on his birthday.
At Gadakana, Modi interacted with PMAY beneficiaries at a special function held at the village and enquired about various issues relating to the area. Local residents, including women, also informed the PM about a number of issues.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra also present at the function.
Sources said that Modi was served kheer and gifted a portrait of Lord Jagannath by a girl on his birthday. The PM also visited some houses during his visit to the slum area.
Coinciding with his birthday, Modi also inaugurated the house of a PMAY Antaryami Nayak. In total houses of around 36 beneficiaries of PM Awas Yojana were inaugurated.
The Prime Minister released the first instalment of assistance to nearly 13 lakh beneficiaries under PMAY-G of around 14 states.
The Griha Pravesh celebrations for 26 lakh beneficiaries of PMAY (Gramin and Urban) from across the country was also held during the programme. Modi handed over the keys of their house to PMAY (Gramin and Urban) beneficiaries.
The PM also launched Awaas+ 2024 App, for survey of additional households for PMAY-G. Further, he launched the Operational Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0
“We are happy that the PM came to our colony and met us. We had only seen him in public meetings and on television earlier, but being part of the small interaction team was a matter of pride for us. He also officially handed over the completed PMAY houses,” said a beneficiary.
The 35 PMAY houses have been constructed by BMC out of the grant sanctioned for each home. Each eligible family has been given Rs 2 lakh in four instalments for the houses.
The PMAY colony at Gadakana has a community toilet facility, streetlights and a 24×7 power supply. Each house has a kitchen and there is a community hall as well.
Following the programme at Gaakana, the PM proceeded to Janata Maidan to inaugurate the ambitious Subhadra Yojana of Odisha government benefitting lakhs of women in the state.