BHOPAL: The state Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Housing Guarantee Bill — CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's brainchild — that promises every landless person in Madhya Pradesh a plot of land to build a home. 

"Madhya Pradesh will be the first state in the country to enact such a law," the government claimed. The bill is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mission for housing for all by 2022, and will be presented in the assembly during the second phase of the Budget session beginning March 20. With 18 months to go for the assembly polls, it could have a significant impact on the ground. 

Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, water resources minister and government spokesman Narottam Mishra said, "It is a great day for this government. A historic bill has been ratified by the Cabinet for the benefit of the deprived and homeless, the landless poor of the state. Through the new law, the government will give guarantee to all such persons born in Madhya Pradesh to have a home of their own. The land to make a roof over their head will be given by the government as a guarantee." 

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Asked how much land will be required and how much the scheme will cost, Mishra said, "The finer points of the bill are being worked out. But the state government has a land bank. If we fall short of land for distribution, the government will purchase it."