Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh): Houses of the poor are set to get national-level recognition! And not just that, three women from the state have got a rare opportunity to participate in a video conference to be addressed by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Their efforts got good recognition as they became ideal citizens by building their dream houses.
Taking government help and getting loans, they built their modern houses on a small piece of land.
A new house built by Mungi Shanthi and Krishna, a couple of Nandigama in Krishna district was selected for "Innovation Construction Technology Award " under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme. She is to talk to Narendra Modi on in a video conference on January 1. "Union Housing for All" Mission Director, Amrit Abhijat has issued orders to this extent.
Also, Durga of Vishakhapatnam and Anantha Lakshmi of Prakasham districts have got a chance to attend Modi's video conference. Besides working as a maid in several houses, Shanti — a rag picker collects waste papers and plastic material for eking out a livelihood. Her husband Krishna is a rickshaw puller.
With two children, they lived in a shed on rent for eight years and faced all odds together. They bought 2 cents of a land piece for Rs 3 lakhs in Cheruvu Bazar area. Shanti was allotted a house under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme and NTR Urban Housing scheme. In 2017-18, the Centre gave Rs 1.5 lakh, the state government offered Rs 1 lakh for the housing.
They built a dream house with modern facilities — two bedrooms, hall, kitchen, western toilets, fall ceiling, marbles and tiles and decorated in colour. After a visit, the housing officials selected their house for the central award and paved way for them to attend Modi's video conference on January 1.
"We have built the house at a cost of Rs 16 lakhs, and took a loan of Rs 13 lakhs. We are yet to receive Rs 50000 from the government, Shanti said. "We are happy that our house was selected for the national award and feel fortunate to get a chance to talk to Modi in the video conference," she added.
Similarly, Mandalapu Anantha Lakshmi of Narravaripalem village in Addanki Mandal of Prakasham district was allotted a house under the same scheme. They built a house with modern facilities in one and a half cents of land. The officials concerned have selected their house as the best structure and paved way for attending Modi's meeting.
"We had been living in a shed for 20 years and finally built a good house with modern facilities. For this we got government help in a phased manner and added some of our own money," Anantha Lakshmi said happily.
Durga and her husband Appanna Babu live in Uppara Colony of Gajuwaka used to live in a shed for quite some time. They faced all difficulties of all seasons in the same shed with a weak roof. Now, finally, they have built a house with modern facilities by taking a loan of Rs 2.5 lakhs sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme.
To make her success story public, the officials have selected Durga as the best beneficiary and offered a chance to attend to Modi's video conference.
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