Amma Cement scheme will help low and middle income families

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J J Jayalalithaa, has announced a new scheme to subsidise cement for low and middle-income families. The ‘Amma Cement’ scheme, which follows similar initiatives in the state for food and water, will offer a 50 kg bag of cement for Rs.190. A person wishing to build a 100 ft² house will get 50 bags, while a person building a 1500 ft² house could get a maximum of 750 bags. Those renovating or repairing their houses will be able to purchase 10 – 100 bags.

The government plans to purchase 2 lakh t of cement from private cement manufacturers every month, which will be sold through various means across the state. Those people buying the reduced-price cement will be required to submit their building plan permit. Amma Cement will also be available at Rs.220 to construction projects under the solar-powered green houses scheme and the Indira Awas Yojana Housing Scheme.

Tamil Nadu has traditionally been supplied with one quarter of its cement demand by Andhra Pradesh, which is currently selling bags of cement at Rs.310 each. This price hike encouraged suppliers within Tamil Nadu to also raise their prices, which is why the government considered this scheme to be necessary.

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui

Sources:

• The Financial Express
• Times of India
• The Hindu

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/26092014/amma-cement-scheme-will-help-low-middle-income-families-556/