By  Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : Beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) from Sivasagar in Assam had a video chat with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a one-hour long interaction he had with them along with other beneficiaries from a few states on Tuesday. The Prime Minister talked about issues that Assam is combating- the perennial floods and tobacco consumption. He requested the beneficiaries to give up consumption of Tobacco. The beneficiaries who had gathered to talk to the Prime Minister told him about the changes brought about in their housing thanks to the scheme. They also told them about their families. A few, visibly excited at the prospect of interacting live with the PM, shared details about their children and grandchildren with him to which he responded with a few questions on the facilities for education being provided to them! During the interaction, via the NaMo App, PM Modi gave his assurance that his Government is committed to providing housing to all by 2022. “The Awas Yojana is not merely about brick and mortar. This scheme is about a better quality of life and dreams coming true,” said Prime Minister Modi while talking to the Awas Yojana beneficiaries via the app. The Prime Minister said since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power four years back, over one crore houses have been constructed.He assured the ones who are yet to receive support under the PMAY-G scheme that they will be made beneficiaries very soon. He requested them to try and give up tobacco addiction which afflicts maximum people across the state. The Prime Minister, during the interaction, added that the Government has been working to free the housing sector from middlemen, corruption and ensuring that the beneficiaries get their own home without hassles. He also stressed upon how latest technology is being used to ensure faster building of houses for the poor in urban as well as rural areas at affordable costs. He also said that the focus of the scheme is to ensure more women, Divyang sisters and brothers, people from SC, ST, OBC and Minority communities get a roof.