Kawardha. Every monsoon brought fear and insecurity for Phoolbatiya Bai Baiga, a resident of Sonwahi Gram Panchayat, Jhalamala Development Block, Bodla, a forest village located 70 kilometers from the district headquarters, Kabirdham. The mud walls, the cracking tiled roof, and the dripping rainwater were less about home and more about constant worry. But now, these fears are a thing of the past. With the Pradhan Mantri Janman Awas Yojana (PMJAY), Phoolbatiya Bai Baiga’s long-cherished dream has finally come true, as her family has finally secured a secure, permanent home.
Phoolbatiya Bai Baiga explains that due to limited income and a lack of resources, building a permanent home was impossible. While problems persisted throughout all seasons, the rainy season was particularly painful. Living in such a remote location, she felt that government assistance would never reach her. But when her name appeared in the Pradhan Mantri Janman Awas Yojana (PMJAY) survey, she felt for the first time that the government was reaching out. Today, Phoolbatiya Bai Baiga lives comfortably under a strong roof. She adds emotionally, “Now there’s no fear of sun or rain. This house isn’t just a place to live, but the foundation for a secure and respectable future in society.” Registering a job card under the Housing and Employment Guarantee Act (HGA) has expanded her facilities, including 95 days of work and wages for self-construction, land reforms, a toilet under the Swachh Bharat Mission, an Ayushman card, a ration card, and other government benefits.
Delivering construction materials and completing projects in a forested and difficult geographical area like Bodla is not easy. However, the district administration overcame all challenges and ensured that distance and inaccessibility did not hinder construction and quality. Under the scheme’s transparent process, the approved amount of 2 lakh rupees for housing construction was transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank account through online DBT based on progress, allowing Phoolbatiya Bai Baiga to construct her own permanent home under her own supervision.
In-charge District Panchayat CEO Vinay Kumar Poyam stated that under the Pradhan Mantri Janman Awas Yojana, 9,625 houses have been approved in the district. Against this approval, the first installment has been disbursed to 9,206 beneficiaries, the second installment to 7,485 beneficiaries, the third installment to 5,107 beneficiaries, and the fourth installment to 2,594 beneficiaries. To date, 4,210 beautiful, permanent houses have been completed, and members of the Baiga community are living happily with their families.
It is noteworthy that through the Pradhan Mantri Janman Awas Yojana, the Baiga community, a special backward tribe, has benefited from the government’s welfare scheme and has been given the opportunity to live with dignity in society. Phoolbatiya Bai Baiga’s permanent house symbolizes that government schemes are no longer limited to paper, but are reaching the last person, bringing real change to life. This concrete house standing in a village like Sonwahi is not only the story of a family’s dreams but is also a new example of development, trust and self-respect in Bodla development block of Kabirdham district.
