According to government sources, the toll free number – 18008899451 – is meant for the beneficiaries to lodge complaints or any grievances related to the scheme so that ‘Banglar Bari’ scheme is free from favouritism and corruption.
The government has decided to launch this app as the state government has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy to any form of corruption, said a source.
Under the scheme, each eligible family will get ₹1.20 lakh to construct a house, of which ₹60,000 will be disbursed as the first instalment. However, beneficiaries in some areas of Jangalmahal and Darjeeling Hills will get ₹1.30 lakh.
The state government launched the ‘Banglar Bari’ scheme on December 17 after the Centre stopped funds to the West Bengal government under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Sources stated that the Panchayat Department has given instructions that block-level officers will be monitoring the process of the houses under the ‘Banglar Bari’ scheme. Further, block level officers will be visiting each house under the scheme for physical inspection.
In the first phase more than 8 lakh beneficiaries out of 12 lakh have received the first instalment from the state government. The remaining will receive the instalments by the coming week, the source said.
Another 18 lakh beneficiaries will be given ‘Banglar Bari’ scheme’s benefit in 2025, it said. The total expenditure of the scheme will be approximately of Rs 14,773 crore and the government had prepared a list of 28 lakh eligible beneficiaries.
Previously, the Centre used to provide 60 per cent of the funds under the PMAY, while the state shared 40 per cent. It stopped releasing funds to the state in 2022 following allegations of financial irregularities. It was alleged that the scheme was only being provided to those close to the ruling party.
Earlier this year, protests broke out in Purulia, West Burdwan, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas and Birbhum districts over allegations that the names of those who were close to the ruling party were found in the list of beneficiaries while those of the deserving people were dropped.