Chief minister Hemant Soren appealed for an increase in the central funding for the Light Houses Project, a Union government-aided scheme to provide homes for the economically weaker sections launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an online ceremony on New Year’s Day.

Modi laid the foundation stone for the project in Ranchi and five other cities in the first phase on Friday. As many as 1,008 houses, some of them built using prefabricated structures, will come up in Ranchi’s Dhurwa area on about seven acres with an estimated budget of Rs 133.99 crore.

The other cities where similar houses will be built are Indore, Rajkot, Chennai, Agartala and Lucknow.

As per the modalities of this scheme, besides the Centre’s and state's contribution, each beneficiary will have to pay about Rs 7 lakh to avail of the homes. Hemant believes the amount earmarked for individuals is beyond the reach of the poor.

"PM sir, you are aware about the poverty in this state. Unlike the situation in other states, the poor in Jharkhand find it difficult to manage a day's meal. I am of the view that many won't be able to spend Rs 7 lakh. Considering the condition of Jharkhand, it is my humble appeal to increase the central share so that individual's investment amount can come down," he said in his address at the function.

The Prime Minister, however, did not make any immediate commitment.

State urban development department officials said that anyone earning up to Rs 3 lakh per annum would be eligible for this scheme. On Thursday, director of municipal administration under the department Vijaya Jadhav said the idea behind the Light House Project was to provide state-of-the-art houses, built in record time using latest technology, at affordable rates.

"In Ranchi, the houses will be built using prefabricated structures, most of which will first be constructed in workstations and brought here to customise as houses. The technology will make it easy to install houses also reduce environmental hazards,” she said.

Jadhav said each house would be of 315sqfeet with a bedroom, kitchen, balcony and toilet. “There will also be water and power facilities, lifts, parks and other amenitie in the complex,” she said.