West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday (August 6, 2026) announced that the State Cabinet has renamed the housing scheme ‘Banglar Bari’ as ‘Paschim Banga Awas’ and released the final instalment of financial assistance to more than 10 lakh beneficiaries.

Launching the transfer of the second and final tranche of funds, Mr. Adhikari said 10,20,379 beneficiaries received ₹60,000 each, involving a total outlay of over ₹6,000 crore.

He said the first instalment of funds would be released to several lakh new beneficiaries immediately after the Durga Puja festival in October. Under the scheme, beneficiaries receive financial assistance of ₹1.20 lakh in two instalments for construction of houses.

The beneficiaries are among the 18 lakh families identified under the housing scheme during the previous TMC regime.

The scheme for housing for the rural poor was lying in limbo for the past few years during the previous Trinamool Congress government. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the scheme for the poor rural families in 2024, two years after the Centre stopped funding the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Grameen) (PMAY-G) in the State, after alleging massive corruption in its implementation, among other things.

Central funding for the housing scheme, along with some other projects, was stopped after allegations that utilisation certificates had not been submitted by the previous TMC government.

Appealing to people to apply under the ‘Paschim Banga Awas’ scheme, Mr. Adhikari said, “We will not see caste, creed or religion. Only the guidelines will be adhered to, ensuring genuine applicants get the benefit.”

Published - August 07, 2026 10:30 am IST