The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) was launched on November 20, 2016, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to provide pucca houses to the underprivileged in rural areas. This flagship scheme focuses on uplifting the poorest segments of society by providing them with safe, secure, and sustainable housing.
Key Achievements and Progress:
- Target: Originally, the scheme aimed to construct 2.95 crore houses by 2023-24. In 2024, this target was extended with an additional 2 crore houses to be built by 2029.
- Current Progress: As of November 19, 2024, 3.21 crore houses have been sanctioned, and 2.67 crore have been completed, significantly improving living conditions for millions.
- Women Empowerment: Approximately 74% of houses are owned by women, either solely or jointly, with an ambition to achieve 100% ownership by women.
- Skilled Employment: Nearly 3 lakh rural masons have been trained in disaster-resilient construction techniques.
Financial Provisions:
- The scheme allocates ₹3,06,137 crore for FY 2024–29, with ₹54,500 crore earmarked for FY 2024-25.
- Unit assistance is ₹1.20 lakh for plain areas and ₹1.30 lakh for North Eastern and Hill States.
- Beneficiaries can access institutional loans of up to ₹70,000 at a 3% interest subsidy, with a maximum subsidy on ₹2,00,000.
Convergence with Other Schemes:
PMAY-G integrates with various government initiatives to ensure comprehensive rural development:
- Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G): ₹12,000 assistance for toilet construction.
- MGNREGA: Offers 95 days of unskilled labor for beneficiaries, with training for rural mason skills.
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Free LPG connections for cleaner cooking.
- Piped Water and Electricity: Ensures basic amenities for better living standards.
- Waste Management: Improves hygiene through social and liquid waste management systems.
Technological and Monitoring Innovations:
- Beneficiaries are selected through SECC 2011 and Awaas+ 2018 surveys, verified by Gram Sabhas.
- The Awaas+ 2024 mobile app uses Aadhaar-based face authentication and offers 3D house design options.
- Payments are made directly to beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Features of PMAY-G Houses:
- Minimum house size of 25 sq. meters, including a hygienic cooking area.
- Structurally sound and culturally appropriate designs using local materials.
- Disaster-resilient construction methods.
Beneficiary Inclusion Criteria:
Eligibility is determined through SECC 2011 and Awaas+ 2018 lists. Households included are:
- Houseless families.
- Families living in kuccha houses or homes with zero to two rooms.
Automatic Inclusion Criteria:
- Destitute households.
- Manual scavengers.
- Primitive tribal groups.
- Legally released bonded laborers.
By converging various welfare schemes and leveraging technology, PMAY-G is transforming rural housing and promoting inclusive development, benefiting nearly 10 crore individuals across the country.