Bhubaneswar, Jan 19: Odisha Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Monday, said that the survey for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) will begin January 24.

He informed that benificiaries can apply for the scheme online as well as offline. "The state government will launch the Awas Portal January 24," Naik stated.

His statement says that the survey will run for nearly two months. "The concerned department is fully prepared for this. Offline applicants can apply at their Panchayats, while they can also apply online through the portal," stated Naik, who is also in charge of Rural Development, and Drinking Water departments.

In a bid to aware the people, the department has conducted awareness programmes through village meetings.

The Centre has increased the number of Awas from two crore to three crore. "We hope Odisha will get more awas for people," said an optimistic Panchayati Raj Minister.

The Centre has also relaxed the norms for the allotment of Awas. The norms now suggest that if someone has bike and refrigerator, and an annual income of Rs 15,000, is also eligible to apply for Awas.

"No one, if found eligible, will be kept out of the list. A son who is separated from his father, a woman living separately from her husband, can also apply," stated Naik.

In addition, the Panchayati Raj Minister said that those who had applied before will have to apply again. "The Odisha government has an aim to complete the survey within two months," he signed off.

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