Mahayuti unity in show as Shah powers rural housing for 20 lakh in Maharashtra

The ruling Mahayuti coalition partners — BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena — stood side by side in a show of unity on Saturday as Home Minister Amit Shah powered the rural housing scheme from Maharashtra's Pune.

Shah distributed sanction letters to 20 lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantru Gramin Aawas Yojana (Phase-2) and Maharashtra’s first instalment to 10 lakh beneficiaries in Pune.

“For the first time in the country, the dreams of 20 lakh beneficiaries receiving their own homes, is being fulfilled simultaneously,” the Home Ministry statement said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched Phase-2 of the PM Awas Yojana, under which Maharashtra received the highest number of homes.

Shah, addressing the gathering, said along with the homes, by providing toilets, the PM had safeguarded the dignity and self-respect of the poor.

“Under the Union Government's target of providing 5 crore homes to women, backward classes, SCs, STs and other economically weaker sections by 2029, already 3 crore 80 lakh homes have been given,” the ministry said.

He added that under Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra, the Centre had implemented all welfare schemes.

Shah added that along with the houses, beneficiaries would also receive toilets, solar panels and gas cylinders soon.

“India is for the first time witnessing simultaneous allocation of 20 lakh homes to beneficiaries. Joint efforts of the Central and state governments are turning the dream of home ownership for 20 lakh people into reality,” Shah said.