Lucknow: Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0, the Uttar Pradesh government transferred the first installment of housing assistance to the bank accounts of more than two lakh beneficiaries. The state-level programme was held at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow, with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar joining virtually and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressing the gathering in person.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar described the initiative as a major step towards fulfilling the dream of a permanent home for the poor and middle-class families. He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for transforming Uttar Pradesh through the delivery of basic amenities such as housing, tap water, toilets, LPG connections and health insurance. “This campaign will continue until every homeless family gets a permanent roof over its head,” Khattar said, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to inclusive urban development.
Khattar highlighted that schemes like Ayushman Bharat are providing health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family, while the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has enabled millions to move from kutcha houses to permanent homes. He also underlined women empowerment as a key achievement of the scheme, noting that a majority of houses have been allotted in the name of women or under joint ownership, giving them financial security and social dignity.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the housing scheme is not merely about constructing houses, but about laying a strong foundation for self-reliance. He pointed out that along with housing assistance, beneficiaries are also receiving toilets, electricity connections, Ujjwala gas cylinders and Ayushman health cards, leading to a holistic improvement in their quality of life. The Chief Minister urged beneficiaries to ensure proper utilisation of the funds, focus on their children’s education and use government schemes as stepping stones towards long-term self-sufficiency.
Urban Development Minister A.K. Sharma, addressing the programme, said that urban local bodies play a crucial role in the journey from “Swachh Bharat to Viksit Bharat.” He cited the improvement in urban cleanliness rankings, including Lucknow securing third place nationally and Ghaziabad featuring among the world’s top 50 clean cities, as evidence of the state’s changing urban landscape. He also referred to successful projects where garbage dumps were converted into model parks and public spaces.
During the event, details were shared about districts receiving the highest number of beneficiaries under the scheme. These included Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Pratapgarh, Ayodhya and several others, where thousands of families received the first installment directly into their bank accounts.
The Chief Minister also shared inspiring examples from Ayodhya and Sonbhadra, where beneficiaries used the financial support not only to build homes but also to start livelihood activities such as e-rickshaw services and dairy units, leading to sustainable income generation. He said schemes like Mission Rozgar, PM SVANidhi, PM Vishwakarma, Startup India, Stand-Up India and Skill Development programmes are working in convergence to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Yogi Adityanath interacted directly with beneficiaries from various districts through virtual dialogue. Beneficiaries expressed gratitude and shared how the scheme has brought stability and hope to their lives. The Chief Minister also distributed housing approval letters to selected beneficiaries, who thanked the government for its sensitivity and support.
Concluding the programme, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Union Minister, stating that the government’s resolve is to ensure a permanent home for every needy family and employment opportunities for every youth, steering Uttar Pradesh towards becoming a self-reliant state.
