PATNA, Aug. 21 -- Bihar government has been allotted an annual target of constructing 1.118 million houses for the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Grameen) in fiscal year 2026-27 with the central government set to provide financial allocation of Rs.13,427 crore, said chief minister Samrat Choudhary in the presence of union minister for agriculture and farmers' welfare and rural development Shivraj Singh Chouhan at an event in Patna. The event was organised to mark the completion of 230,000 lakh houses under PMAY-G and handover of the keys to the beneficiaries. The CM said Bihar has already witnessed the allotment and construction of 5 million houses for poor under PMAY-G from 2014 to 2026 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thanked Chouhan for allotting a target of 11,18,937 houses for the poor under the centrally sponsored housing scheme for this fiscal year. "We are here to provide pucca houses to the poor. In this very state, under the Modi government from 2014 to 2026, 5 million houses have been provided. Today, 2,35,000 people have received their completed homes," Choudhary said. In the same vein, the CM recalled how only 30 lakh houses had been constructed from 1986 to 2014 under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY has been replaced by PMAY-G). He also stressed that 19 lakh households from the economically deprived sections, who were not covered under the housing scheme during a survey in 2018, were included in the beneficiary list of PMAY-G due to the initiative of the PM and union rural development minister. Chouhan, while handing over the house keys to beneficiaries, extended Raksha Bandhan greetings and praised the state's governance. He drew a sharp contrast between the current administration and previous regimes regarding financial transparency. "Earlier, during the Congress regime, when Rs.1 was sent, only 15 paise reached the ground. Under Modi ji's tenure, for every Rs.1 sent, the full Rs.1 reaches the beneficiary... It is our firm resolve that no sister shall remain poor," he said, adding while Bihar once suffered under 'Jungle Raj,' the current leadership has successfully tackled crime and corruption. Chouhan further assured that every kutcha house in Bihar would be converted into a pucca dwelling and highlighted the new 'Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G)' scheme, which will provide approximately Rs.5 crore to each panchayat for development. He also lauded Bihar's 'Lakhpati Didi' and 'Farmer ID' initiatives, noting that over 30 lakh women in the state have already attained 'Lakhpati' status. Highlighting the shift in housing quality, CM Choudhary said, "Earlier under IAY, cluster housing was provided in colonies, but now people build their own independent pucca houses. Receiving a new home elevates one to new heights." Addressing administrative accountability, the CM emphasised the success of 'Sahayog Portal,' which mandates officials resolve public grievances within a strict 30-day window. "If any officer or employee fails to respond within 30 days, they will be automatically suspended. Almost 96 per cent of the 6.42 lakh applications received so far have been resolved," he said. Providing updates on other welfare initiatives, the CM said that Bihar is preparing ration cards for nearly 1 crore people, with 30 lakh cards already generated. He also noted the success of women's empowerment schemes. "Work towards taking Lakhpati Didi initiative forward is on. From Bihar alone, 30 lakh Didis have become Lakhpati Didis," he said. Choudhary called for further central support to transform rural Bihar. "There are 45,000 villages in Bihar where work needs to be undertaken. The Government of India should run special campaigns, develop tourist destinations, and build markets for Jeevika Didis," he said, while appealing to Chouhan to continue providing assistance to help build a "prosperous Bihar."...