States » EastPosted at: Sep 28 2026 11:27PM


Bengal rolls out housing plan for jute mill workers

Kolkata, Sep 28 (UNI) The West Bengal Labour Department has launched a pilot housing scheme aimed at providing affordable homes to economically weaker jute mill workers and their families in North 24 Parganas and Hooghly.
The initiative has been taken under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) component of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0). It is targeted at eligible workers who currently live in ageing and poorly maintained labour quarters across the state’s jute belt.
Labour Minister Arjun Singh said the scheme seeks to address the long-standing housing problems faced by jute mill workers. He said many workers continue to live in quarters lacking proper sanitation, drainage and basic facilities.
Under the scheme, workers with an annual household income of up to Rs 3 lakh and who do not own a pucca house anywhere in India will be eligible, subject to verification under PMAY-U 2.0 guidelines.
Each proposed dwelling unit will have a carpet area of 30 to 45 square metres, with at least two rooms, a kitchen and a toilet.
The Labour Department will coordinate with district administrations, urban local bodies, trade unions and jute mill managements to identify eligible beneficiaries. In North 24 Parganas, Bhatpara, Titagarh and Kamarhati municipalities have been asked to identify encumbrance-free land for the project.
In Hooghly, special camps will be organised with the Labour Commissionerate to help workers submit their applications. Around 8,000 jute mill workers have reportedly expressed interest in the scheme so far.
The department will now collect applications, verify the eligibility of applicants and process them according to the existing guidelines.
Singh said the initiative was intended not merely to provide housing but also to improve the security, dignity and living conditions of jute mill workers and their families. UNI NN NST CDS
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