Bed-ridden for 15 years, 65 year-old from Bhadarwah bags ‘best house construction’ award under PMAY

STATE TIMES NEWS

BHADARWAH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri awarded the ‘best construction award’ through video conferencing under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to an elderly couple resident of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bhadarwah town.
The awardee was joined by DDC Doda Dr Sagar Dattaray Doifode, Executive Officer BMC (Bhadarwah Municipal Committee) Yusaf-Ul-Umar and other officials, at the mini secretariat Doda.
During the video-conference, PM Modi talked about the scheme that started in June 2015 and the number of beneficiaries from poor and middle-class urban families.
Out of total 88 beneficiaries selected for the best construction award from the country, three belonged to UT of Jammu and Kashmir including one each from Samba, Ramgarh and Bhadarwah.
From Ward 10 of Tharra Mohalla of Bhadarwah town elected for the award is Abdul Latief Ganai (65), who use to work at a small cloth shop had a severe slip disc, due to which he remained bed ridden for 15 years and became bankrupt.
“Due my prolonged illness, I have to sell everything I had and lived in one room with my wife and two sons,” said Abdul Latief Ganai (65).
While expressing his gratitude to the Prime Minister, Ganai said that PMAY scheme came as a blessing in disguise for my family as today we are living in our own pucca house and also have been awarded for the best construction by the Prime Minister himself.
His 24 years-old son Nadeem Latief, who recently completed his post graduation in history also joined his father at Doda during the Prime Minister’s video conference and felt elated while his father’s name was being announced for the best construction award.
“We have seen very difficult times as for years me and my brother use to spend nights with our cousins or friends place as we have only one room, but now we have our own roof for which we are thankful to the honorable Prime Minister,” said Nadeem Latief son of Latief Ganai.
EO Muncipal Committee Bhadarwah while appreciating the efforts of awarded family said that they constructed the house as per guidelines and today they have been awarded for their honesty and dedication which is matter of pride for us as well.
“I hope all the beneficiaries will get inspiration from Latief as in Bhadarwah town a total of 330 homes have been sanctioned under PMAY Urban, out of which 200 are under construction and 47 have been already completed,” said Yusaf-Ul-Umar, EO BMC.
Under the EWS (Economically weaker Sections) scheme, each beneficiary is given a grant of Rs 1.66 lakh to build his/her house.