Fri Dec 06 14:31:05 UTC 2024: ## Karnataka Accused of Blocking Housing Scheme for the Poor
**Mangaluru, Dec 6, 2024** – Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta has accused the Karnataka Congress government of deliberately hindering the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0, a central government scheme aimed at providing affordable housing to the poor. Chowta alleges that the state’s failure to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Union government is preventing thousands of eligible citizens from accessing the benefits of the program.
Chowta criticized the state government for prioritizing political agendas over the needs of its citizens, stating that the delay in signing the MoA demonstrates a lack of commitment to uplifting the poor and vulnerable. He highlighted that 29 other states and union territories have already signed the MoA, leaving Karnataka as the only holdout.
The MP’s claims are supported by a response from Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, who confirmed in the Lok Sabha that the state government’s inaction is preventing the identification and allocation of housing units under PMAY-U 2.0. The scheme prioritizes widows, single women, disabled individuals, senior citizens, and other vulnerable groups.
Chowta urged the Karnataka government to immediately sign the MoA and allow eligible citizens, particularly women, to benefit from the scheme. He further criticized the state government for what he described as wasteful spending on “unscientific schemes” while simultaneously blocking access to central government initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the poor.
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