The first Cabinet meeting of the BJP government in Chhattisgarh on Thursday okayed the construction of 18 lakh PM Awas for the homeless. It also decided to disburse paddy bonus of two years to the farmers on December 25.

The meeting took place at Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur, in which the Chief Minister and his two deputies were present along with senior officials. 

The three later also held separate meetings with senior bureaucrats including Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain and Director General of Police Ashok Juneja.

Briefing newspersons after the cabinet meeting, Sai reiterated his commitment to fulfill ‘Modi Guarantees’ announced before the elections.

“It was decided to implement the welfare schemes announced in our election manifesto,” Sai said.

The cabinet decided to release funds and provide immediate approval for construction of houses for 18,12,743 families in the state. Furthermore, the cabinet decided that the remaining eligible 6,99,439 families in the permanent waiting list under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) and 8,19,999 eligible families in the Awas Plus list  will also be given approval for housing, Sai said.

The cabinet has decided to expedite the ongoing construction of 2,46,215 houses under the scheme.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Awas Yojana, prompt approval will further be given for construction of 17,65,653 houses and 47,090 houses for a total of 18,12,743 eligible families in the state, he added. Sai and his two deputies earlier on Wednesday went to the Mantralaya and assumed charge after performing religious rituals. Sai was sworn in as Chief Minister on Wednesday, while Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.