"There is a central proposal for development of about 5,000 villages across the country into model villages. And we also intend to send a list of some villages to the union rural development department for approval," Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto, who also holds the rural portfolio, said in the presence of Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh during media briefing here.
Ramesh, who was here to review several development programmes initiated by his department, gave the nod that the Centre would include villages from Jharkhand too.
This would, Mahto added, help all the BPL families to get housing under the Indira Awas Yojana.
When Mahto requested Ramesh to consider inclusion of the additional 11 lakh BPL families besides the existing 25 lakh BPL families in the central list, Ramesh said there was a new survey going on and more families would be included in the next survey list.
"Now we are giving as per the 2002 survey (of BPL families)," Ramesh said.
At present Jharkhand government is footing the bills of the additional 11 lakh BPL families, who are getting benefits almost at par with the central BPL list.