Poor Labourer’s Family Waits for PMAY House, Lives in a Kutcha Hut

A poor labourer’s family in Manakpur Naroli village of the Baniyakhera area in Chandausi block has been moving from office to office for several years, waiting for a permanent house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

The family says it has been forced to live with children under the open sky and in a kutcha hut while waiting for housing assistance. The situation has raised questions about the implementation of claims by the Central and state governments that every poor person will be provided a roof over their head.

Chhote Lal, son of Kesari and a resident of Manakpur Naroli, said that he is extremely poor. He said he does not have land of his own or a permanent house. He earns his livelihood through daily-wage labour and supports his 3 small children with his earnings.

The family is forced to live in a kutcha hut during the rainy season as well as in severe cold. The family’s condition remains difficult because, according to Chhote Lal, he does not even have land where he can put up a hut.

Chhote Lal alleged that he has approached the village head as well as officials at the block level several times for a house. He said teams visited the village on several occasions in the name of conducting a survey. The teams noted down his name and left, but no concrete action has been taken so far.

He said that every time, he received only assurances that the house would be sanctioned. Chhote Lal said, “Sir, it has been several years. Every time they say that your house will be sanctioned. The lekhpals come, speak to the village head, take photographs and leave, and then no one listens. I have 3 children and I work as a labourer. I do not even have land where I can put up a hut. The government says that everyone will get a house, but we have not received one till today.”

Villagers also said that Chhote Lal is among the most deserving beneficiaries in need of a house. They said, however, that no one has listened to his complaint.

The affected family has appealed to the District Magistrate, Sambhal, and the Block Development Officer, Baniyakhera, to consider its condition and provide it with a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as soon as possible.