THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026

For Runu Pradhan, a tailor from Ward No. 9 of Phulabani Municipality, building a house was never simply about putting up walls and a roof. It was about rebuilding a life after loss, securing a future for her two daughters and reclaiming the dignity that comes with having a home of one’s own. A widow and the sole breadwinner of her family, Runu faced the challenge with quiet determination. When building her dream home meant sacrificing precious days of livelihood, however, timely support through PMAY-U BANDHU ensured that the journey towards a secure home did not become a journey away from financial security.

For Runu, a home means much more than four walls and a roof. It represents security after years of uncertainty, dignity earned through perseverance and a safer future for her two daughters.

Following the death of her husband, Runu became the sole breadwinner of her family. She relied on tailoring to support her daughters and ensure that their education continued despite the responsibilities life had placed on her shoulders. Through hard work and determination, she remained focused on creating a better future for her family.

That dream began to take shape in 2025, when Runu applied for assistance under PMAY-U 2.0. She received her work order on 12 June 2025 and, displaying remarkable determination, completed construction of her house in just three months and 10 days. Her early completion also made her eligible for the Early Completion Incentive under the State initiative.

For Runu, completing the house in such a short time was not merely about meeting a construction deadline. It meant giving her daughters a secure place where they could live, study and dream without the uncertainty they had known before.

But the journey came with a difficult choice.

As Runu devoted time to supervising and overseeing the construction of her new home, she had to spend less time at her sewing machine. For a woman whose family depended on her daily earnings, the resulting loss of wages added another layer of financial pressure.

It was at this crucial juncture that Runu found a BANDHU in her journey home.

Under the PMAY-U BANDHU initiative, Runu received ₹25,000 in wage-loss compensation in 2026. The assistance helped ease the financial strain arising from the time she had to devote to constructing her house. More importantly, it recognised an often-overlooked reality: for families dependent on daily livelihoods, building a home can also mean temporarily giving up income.

In Runu’s case, the intervention helped ensure that securing a permanent home did not come at the cost of her family’s immediate livelihood.

Her remarkable journey came into focus during the State-Level Local Self-Government Day 2026, when Runu had the opportunity to interact with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. During the interaction, the Chief Minister enquired about her house under the housing scheme, the other benefits she had received, her experience with Subhadra Yojana, how she had utilised the assistance and about her family.

Runu spoke with confidence about her journey — a widow raising two daughters, earning a livelihood through tailoring and taking on the challenge of building a home for her family.

The interaction revealed something far greater than the success of a housing intervention. It revealed the confidence of a woman who had faced adversity, shouldered responsibility and transformed an opportunity into a better life for her family.

Her story demonstrates how inclusive development becomes meaningful when government support reaches people at the grassroots and responds to the realities of their everyday lives.

Runu’s experience also reflects the broader spirit of PMAY-U BANDHU — supporting beneficiaries beyond the construction of a house. By recognising wage loss during the construction process and providing ₹25,000 in compensation to eligible beneficiaries, the initiative seeks to make the journey towards home ownership more accessible, secure and dignified for vulnerable families.

Today, Runu and her two daughters have a safe, secure and dignified home of their own.

The house is more than a shelter. It is a foundation for her daughters’ education, aspirations and future. For Runu, it is also a symbol of everything she refused to give up — her family, her livelihood, her dignity and her dream.

Runu’s journey is a powerful reminder that when determination meets opportunity and timely support, adversity can become achievement. She built her home with courage; a BANDHU stood beside her when the journey demanded sacrifice; and today, her family stands on a stronger foundation for a brighter tomorrow.

PMAY-U BANDHU: Supporting the Journey Home

₹25,000 wage-loss compensation for eligible beneficiaries who face loss of livelihood while devoting time to the construction of their PMAY-U house — helping ensure that the journey towards a home brings security and dignity without adding to the burden of livelihood loss.