Bengal govt to release 2nd installment of Banglar Bari scheme in May

The West Bengal state government is set to begin distributing the second installment of funds under the Banglar Bari project. This financial assistance will be directly credited to the accounts of eligible beneficiaries within the current month. Starting this Thursday, the Panchayat Department has initiated the process of transferring these funds to the respective District Magistrates, marking a significant step in the project's implementation.

According to sources at Nabanna, the state secretariat, the second installment of the Banglar Bari project will be disbursed specifically to those beneficiaries who have successfully completed the construction of their houses up to the lintel or linton level. This phase of the distribution will benefit approximately 7 lakh 95 thousand individuals. The disbursement of these housing construction funds is scheduled to commence this month, providing crucial support to those who have made substantial progress in building their homes.

The Banglar Bari project had previously released the first installment of ₹60,000 in December of the previous year. As per the project's guidelines, this initial amount was intended to facilitate construction up to the lintel stage. The Panchayat Department is also actively monitoring the progress of the remaining four lakh beneficiaries who are not immediately eligible for the second installment. This monitoring aims to ensure that they expedite the construction of their houses up to the lintel level, thereby qualifying them for the next phase of funding.

A Navanna official explained the disbursement process with an example, "Let's say there are two beneficiaries in a neighborhood. One has built up to the lintel, and the second has not. In that case, the first one will get the money. The second one will not get it right away. And when the second beneficiary sees that, they will also start working up to the lintel quickly to get the money." This approach aims to incentivize timely construction and ensure efficient utilization of the allocated funds.

The Banglar Bari project was launched by the Mamata Banerjee government in response to the central government's decision not to provide funds for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in the state. Under this initiative, the West Bengal government is providing financial assistance of ₹1.20 lakh per person to marginalized communities to build their own homes. In December 2024, the state government disbursed the first installment of ₹60,000 to the bank accounts of 12 lakh beneficiaries.

The 'Standard Operating Procedure' established by the state government stipulates that the second installment will only be released to beneficiaries who have demonstrably progressed the construction of their houses up to the lintel level. Approximately eight lakh beneficiaries have met this criterion within the specified timeframe, making them eligible for the current disbursement.