CHENNAI: A fortnight after former Union Minister EVKS Elangovan questioned the rationale behind naming the Tamil Nadu government's free housing scheme for the poor the 'Kalaingar Housing Scheme' after DMK president M Karunanidhi when the Central Government was contributing 75 per cent of the cost of houses, the TN government hiked its share in the Indira Awaz Yojana (IAY), which is implemented jointly by the Centre and State.
Though the Chief Minister had already clarified that the Indira Awaz Yojana and Kalaingar Housing Scheme were different schemes, he announced an increase in the State's share from Rs 26,250 to Rs 41,250 for every concrete house built under IAY while inaugurating the two-day collectors' conference in Chennai on Friday.
Karunanidhi said that EVKS Elangovan was confused between the two schemes, and made it clear that KHS was fully funded by the State Government. Subseqeuntly, on Independence Day, Karunanidhi increased the cost of each house built under KAH to Rs 75,000.
On Friday, he brought the total cost of a house built under IAY on par with the KAH houses, hiking State's share by Rs 15,000.