The houses have been built in various towns under the Manyawar Kanshiram Shahri Gareeb Awas Yojna announced in June 2008. No allotment, however, has been made so far.

Mayawati herself will hand over allotment letters to some select allottees while others will get these from local officials the same day. Each house has a covered area of 30 sq m and includes a drawing room, a bedroom, a kitchen, a toilet and a balcony. The government had planned to build 1.01 lakh houses every year, but it soon became clear that there were not enough poor people in towns. Therefore, it waived the condition that those seeking houses under the scheme should have BPL cards, and said that an income certificate stating that the family income did not exceed Rs 36,000 per year would be sufficient.

"Construction of over 90,000 houses has been completed in various districts. All these houses will be allotted on January 15," said Balvinder Kumar, Principal Secretary of Ambedkar Gram Vikas department. In all districts, the beneficiaries were selected last year. They will get the houses on lease for 90 years, and will have to pay a nominal lease rent of Rs 10 every year. The allottees will not have the right to sell the houses.

This year, Mayawati has decided to observe her birthday as Jan Kalyankari Diwas. In a communication, Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta has asked divisional commissioners and district magistrates to organise special camps called Jan Kalyankari Shivirs "on the auspicious occasion of the birthday of honourable chief minister". In these camps, beneficiaries of various schemes would be invited and given the necessary papers. Besides, students entitled to scholarships will also receive money.

The schemes include Manyawar Kanshiramji Shahri Gareeb Awas Yojna, Sarvajan Hitay Gareeb Awas for slum dwellers, Malikana Haq Yojna, Savitri Bai Phule Balika Shiksha Madad Yojna, Mahamaya Gareeb Balika Ashirvaad Yojna, widow pension, pensions for old-age people and disabled and the National Family Benefit Scheme and scheme for land to the landless and Dalits. Except the Manyawar Kanshiramji Shahri Gareeb Awas Yojna, all other are ongoing schemes.

The chief secretary has also directed divisional commissioners and DMs to complete the identification of beneficiaries and their verification by January 10. The DMs have been asked to popularise the schemes so that more people come forward to avail the benefits. They also have to ensure that almost 50 per cent beneficiaries invited to the camps belong to SCs and STs.