Permanent homes bring hope to Karsog

What was once a daily ordeal under leaking roofs and crumbling walls has now turned into a life of dignity for hundreds of families in the Karsog subdivision of Mandi district. This remarkable transformation has been made possible by the Himachal Pradesh government’’s Golden Jubilee Housing Scheme (Swarn Jayanti Aashray Yojana).

Over the last two years, 202 eligible families from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) have received financial assistance to build permanent, safe homes. With a total investment of over Rs 3 crore, the state government has taken a significant step towards improving rural housing and uplifting the lives of the underprivileged.

Each beneficiary was given Rs 1.5 lakh, disbursed in two installments, enabling them to construct homes that are not just structures but symbols of security, pride and stability. For many, it’s the first time in their lives they’ve had a house they could truly call their own.

Villagers like Jagdish Kumar, Gyan Chand from Bhanthal and Yashwant Singh, Sunni Devi from Bhutti Sanarli, expressed deep gratitude to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the government. “This scheme has fulfilled our lifelong dream of owning a safe home,” they shared with heartfelt emotion.

The initiative is ongoing and expanding. For 2025, 30 new houses have already been sanctioned in the Karsog subdivision. Beneficiaries have received their first installment of Rs 75,000 and construction is currently underway.

Bhopal Sharma, Tehsil Welfare Officer of Karsog, emphasised the importance of regular monitoring. “We’re in constant touch with beneficiaries to ensure timely and quality construction. No eligible family should be left behind,” he said.

More than a housing scheme, this initiative represents a commitment to human dignity and inclusive development. These new homes across Karsog aren’t just built with bricks and cement — they are monuments to hope, government accountability, and a better tomorrow for the state’s most vulnerable citizens.