Himachal Pradesh, January 31:
The Himachal Pradesh government has announced financial assistance of ₹3 lakh for registered widows, single, abandoned, and disabled women under the Workers’ Welfare Board to help them build houses. To implement this scheme, the Labour and Employment Department has amended the rules of the Workers’ Welfare Board. A new provision, Rule 303, has been added to the Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2008.
Under this scheme, women registered under Rule 266 of the Workers’ Board will receive the financial aid in four installments. To be eligible, the applicant’s annual income must be less than ₹2.5 lakh. Additionally, unmarried women aged 40 years or older will be classified under the single woman category. For disabled women, a minimum of 40% disability is required.
Eligibility Criteria for Assistance
- The beneficiary must be registered with the Workers’ Welfare Board.
- She must have worked for at least 90 days in the past 12 months.
- Her annual income should not exceed ₹2.5 lakh.
- She must own at least two biswa (a local unit of land) for house construction.
Breakdown of Financial Assistance
The total assistance of ₹3 lakh will be distributed in four installments:
- First installment – ₹1,00,000
- Second installment – ₹1,00,000
- Third installment – ₹50,000
- Fourth installment – ₹50,000
Announced a few months ago by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, this scheme requires beneficiaries to complete house construction within two years. The house must be built according to an approved construction plan submitted at the time of application.
Application Process
Eligible women can apply through the Labour Welfare Officer of their district or zone. The officer will prepare the application and forward it to the Secretary of the Workers’ Welfare Board in Shimla, where the final approval will be granted by the Chief Minister.
Documents Required for Application
- Certificate of widowhood, single status, or disability
- Income certificate
- Jamabandi and Tatima (land ownership documents)
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Panchayat Secretary or Urban Local Body
- Undertaking by the beneficiary
- Permanent resident certificate
- Copy of bank passbook
- Aadhaar card
- Family register copy
This scheme is a significant step toward empowering economically weaker and needy women by providing them with secure housing.
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