Naveen launches housing scheme for construction workers

BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday launched Nirmal Shramik Pucca Ghar Yojana to provide houses for registered construction workers of rural areas in the state.

Under the scheme, the government would provide financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to the registered construction workers who are not covered under any other housing schemes launched by the state and central government.

The government also reduced the duration of registration of the workers from five years to three years.

The chief minister said the state government would spend Rs 500 crore for construction of 50,000 houses under the scheme.

At present, more than 12 lakh workers are registered with the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (OBOCWWB) while around 2,000 labourers are identified to be covered under the scheme in 2016-17.