Bhubaneswar, June 1: The municipal corporation today launched a special drive to bridge the gap between housing demand and supply with the implementation of beneficiary-led construction of houses for the weaker section of society.

The beneficiary-led construction is a component of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, which provides assistance to economically weaker families to either construct new houses or develop their own existing houses.

The aim is to cover those who are unable to benefit from other components of the mission. These families can also get central assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh for construction of new houses or develop their existing ones under the mission.

The civic body's latest move comes after it found a considerable gap between the actual demand and supply of houses under the beneficiary-led-construction of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna. It has also been discovered that the delayed mutation proceedings creates problems.#

"The state government, in its directive, has asked us to overcome difficulties in extending the benefits to deserving beneficiaries so that more and more people are covered under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna by filling specific affidavits, sworn in before the executive magistrate," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

The civic body has decided to carry out a media drive till June 4.

Ward-wise camps to receive the application will be held between June 5 and June 12. Compilation of information and preparation of register would be completed between June 13 and 21 and display of the draft list of beneficiaries and verification would be done between June 22 and 30.

The municipal corporation has also planned to have ward sabhas for recommendation of the proposal to the councils. "It is a good move but it is important to ensure error-free selection of the beneficiaries," said social worker Alok Mohanty.