Introduction

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) is a crucial government initiative aimed at providing affordable housing to rural households in India. With the goal of constructing 2.95 crore houses by March 2024, the scheme holds the promise of improving the living conditions of millions. However, recent developments have raised concerns as several states and Union Territories (UTs) missed the deadline for housing allocation, resulting in the reallocation of houses to better-performing states. This article delves into the implications of missed deadlines and the challenges faced in achieving the ambitious “housing for all” goal.

The PMAY-G Scheme and Its Objectives

• The PMAY-G aims to construct 2.95 crore pucca houses with a minimum area of 25 sq m in rural areas.
• Beneficiaries receive financial assistance ranging from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.30 lakh in hilly and difficult regions, and up to Rs 1.2 lakh in the plains.
• The scheme’s funding is divided between the Centre and states in a 60:40 ratio, emphasizing a collaborative approach to achieve the target.

The Missed Deadlines and Allocation Reallocation

• The Centre set a deadline of June 30 for states and UTs to sanction 100% of the allocated houses to eligible beneficiaries.
• However, several states and UTs, including Gujarat, Tripura, Odisha, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Ladakh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Andhra Pradesh, failed to meet this deadline.
• As a consequence, the allocation of 1.44 lakh houses was withdrawn from these states and UTs and reallocated to Uttar Pradesh.

Impact on Uttar Pradesh

• Initially allocated 34.72 lakh houses, Uttar Pradesh received an additional 1,44,220 houses due to the reallocation from other states and UTs.
• The state has already completed the construction of 29.82 lakh houses, with the remaining under construction.
• The state has been given one month to sanction the additional houses to eligible households.

Challenges and Way Forward

• Missed deadlines pose significant challenges in achieving the “housing for all” goal, necessitating strict adherence to timelines in the future.
• States and UTs need to prioritize and expedite the sanctioning and construction processes to ensure timely implementation of the scheme.
• The extension granted to some states/UTs highlights the need to address special circumstances while ensuring equitable distribution of houses.

Conclusion

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin is a crucial initiative to provide affordable housing to rural households in India. The recent reallocation of unsanctioned houses and the missed deadlines underscore the importance of timely implementation. As the scheme progresses, it is vital for states and UTs to work diligently to meet the targets and ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive their rightful homes. The successful execution of PMAY-G will not only improve living conditions but also contribute to overall rural development and the well-being of millions of Indians.

Important Information for UPSC Students

• The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) is a flagship government scheme aimed at providing affordable housing to rural households in India.
• The scheme targets the construction of 2.95 crore pucca houses by March 2024.
• PMAY-G aims to improve the living conditions of rural communities and contribute to overall rural development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the objective of PMAY-G?
   • PMAY-G aims to provide affordable and pucca houses to rural households in India.
2. How are beneficiaries selected for the scheme?
   • Beneficiaries are selected based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data and the Awas+ survey.
3. What is the funding arrangement for PMAY-G?
   • The funding is shared between the Centre and states in a 60:40 ratio.
4. What is the consequence of missed deadlines for housing allocation?
   • States and UTs that miss deadlines may face reallocation of houses to better-performing regions, as seen in the case of Uttar Pradesh.
5. How can the challenges be addressed to achieve the PMAY-G targets?
   • Strict adherence to timelines, efficient implementation, and equitable distribution are essential to address challenges and meet the scheme’s objectives.