Women Owners Under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana & Pucca Houses !!

On: 01 AUG 2023 – In order to achieve the target of “Housing for All” in rural areas, the Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) with effect from 1^stApril, 2016 to provide assistance to construct 2.95 crore pucca houses with basic amenities by March, 2024. A total of 2,14,83,792pucca houses were completed as on 31^st January, 2023 across the rural areas of the country under PMAY-G.

The PMAY-G guidelines provide that allotment of the house shall be made jointly in the name of the husband and wife, except in the case of a widow/unmarried/separated person. The State may also choose to allot the house solely in the name of the woman. Further, in order to ensure empowerment of women, an advisory has been issued stating that all the houses under PMAY-G should include names of women members of the household in sanction details/ownership details (either solely or in joint ownership) and that the female member(s) may be added as secondary owner in the sanction letters where the initial sanction has already been given in the name of the male member. Against the overall completion of 2.41 crore houses as on 28.07.2023, 64,31,304 completed houses are solely in the name of women and 1,02,52,451 jointly in the name of wife and husband i.e., 1,66,83,755 (69.08%) of the total completed houses under PMAY-G.

The PMAY-G guidelines provide that the States/UTs should utilize the services of Ombudsperson under MGNREGA to dispose of grievances and reported incidences of irregularities under PMAY-G. These Ombudspersons are to be assigned the additional responsibility of action as Ombudsperson for PMAY-G with the same geographical jurisdiction as under MGNREGS. After considering the complaints pertaining to PMAY-G beneficiaries such as discrepancy in records regarding identity, location of house, denial of benefits, etc., orders should be passed within 30 days from the receipt of the complaint. Since inception of PMAY-G i.e., 01.04.2016 till 28.07.2023, a total of 13,673 grievances have been received under the PMAYG in the Ministry of Rural Development on CPGRAMS. As the State Govt. implements PMAY-G, these complaints have been forwarded to the State for taking necessary action under intimation to this Ministry. Out of 13,673 grievances, 13,509 have been disposed of as on 28.07.2023.

Construction of Pucca Houses

In order to achieve the target of “Housing for All” in rural areas, the Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) with effect from 1^st April, 2016 to provide assistance to eligible rural households with an overall target to construct 2.95 crore pucca houses with basic amenities by March, 2024. Against the mandated target of 2.95 crore houses, a total of 2.93 crore houses have already been sanctioned to the beneficiaries by the States/UTs and construction of 2.41 crore houses has also been completed as on 27.07.2023.

A total central share of Rs.2,05,789.19 crore has been released to various States/UTs under PMAY-G as on 27.07.2023. A total expenditure of Rs.3,11,409 crore (approx.) has been incurred (which includes State share also) for the construction of houses under PMAY-G.

Out of the total target for construction of 2.95 crore houses under PMAY-G, 2.41 crore houses have been completed as on 27.7.2023. The Ministry focusing on the completion of the remaining 54 lakh (2.95 crore – 2.41 crore) houses by March, 2024. The Ministry is taking the following initiatives to ensure timely completion of the houses under PMAY-G:

Regular review of progress at the level of Ministry.
Launch of PMAY-G Dashboard for monitoring and supervision of the scheme.
Timely allocation of targets to the States/UTs and release of adequate funds.
Regular follow-ups with the State to ensure the release of central and state share of funds and provision of land to landless beneficiaries in rural areas.
Awards to the best performing States/UTs, Districts based on the performance index dashboard, thereby creating healthy competition and motivation among the States/UTs for achieving the set targets.

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has taken several measures by adopting a multi-pronged strategy for improving the living standards of the poor in rural areas of the country including PMAY-G beneficiaries with the main focus on increasing livelihood opportunities, empowering rural women, providing social safety net, skilling of rural youth, infrastructure development, etc. through the following program: