BJP for eradicating logos from Odisha PMAY-G homes

Co-branding of the centrally sponsored rural housing scheme with the state housing programme in Odisha led to a faceoff between the BJP and BJD throughout the Assembly session on Wednesday.
The BJP has demanded quick removing of logos of the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojna (BPGY) from the homes of beneficiaries granted homes beneath the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
“The contribution of minimum state share from state resources is a commitment by the state government for implementation of centrally-sponsored scheme and it does not confer the rights to the state government for use of any other logo other than PMAY-G,” Union Rural Development Secretary Nagendra Nath Sinha wrote to the state authorities on Tuesday.
The Centre has categorically refused permission to co-brand PMAY-G homes and the letter said that such a transfer will result in misinterpretation among the many beneficiaries concerning the advantages of the scheme.

Drawing consideration to the letter, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik requested the Speaker to direct the removing of the BPGY emblem, failing which the BJP won’t permit any enterprise within the House. The BJP has referred to as the co-branding a “deceptive” motion to “discredit” welfare schemes carried out by the Centre within the state.
“We will continue our protest both inside and outside the Assembly till the state government plays according to the rules and removes the BPGY logo from the PMAY-G houses,” Naik stated. The BJP additionally registered its protest by tearing down such plaques exterior homes of beneficiaries.

However, the BJD authorities maintained that utilizing the BPGY emblem is as per norms because the state share is 50 per cent. Odisha Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Pratap Jena advised the Assembly, “There is nothing wrong in using the Biju logo… and we shall continue to do so… Since the state’s contribution is more than half, so using the logo is justifiable.”