Maharashtra cabinet okays land allotment for PMAY

The Maharashtra cabinet Tuesday gave its approval to allot grazing land and plots belonging to local self-governing bodies for construction of affordable housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). An official in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act and the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act would be amended for this purpose.

The decision will pave the way for more availability of land for affordable housing to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for housing to all homeless by 2022, the official informed.

In another decision, the cabinet approved a proposal to increase the age limit for retirement of Anganwadi workers and their helpers from 60 years to 65 years depending on their fitness. An official in the CMO said the Anganwadi sevikas will have to submit a health certificate at 60 years of age.

"After the submission of the certificate, extension in service for Anganwadi workers, assistants and mini Anganwadi workers will be given for three years and later for two years," the official informed.