GANDAKI, March 4:  A total of 1,500 poor households of Gandaki Province have received new houses under the Janata Aawas program. 

A total of 1,501 houses have been completed and handed over to the 2,911 beneficiaries identified as poor in the province, according to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport.

Spokesperson for the Ministry, Tikaram Poudel, said that 435 houses have yet to be handed over along with the final payment for technical reasons. There are some requirements that the households have to fulfill, including building toilets.

The federal government started the Janata Aawas or housing program from the year 2066-067 to provide safe housing for Dalit, poor, endangered and highly marginalized communities.

The program which was being implemented by the federal government was transferred to the provincial government from the year 2075-076 BS. The program is being implemented through the infrastructure development office in the districts under the provincial government.

Beneficiaries have received grants for two-story buildings. 

Paudel said the funds are provided to the beneficiaries in four installments. According to the approved program of the federal government, only the beneficiaries selected in the year 2074/075 BS are included in the program.

(RSS)