NEW DELHI, Nov 21: On the occasion of the 8th anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), the Ministry of Rural Development on Wednesday highlighted the scheme’s transformative role in empowering rural India, promoting social equity, and uplifting marginalized communities. The Ministry emphasized that PMAY-G is not just a housing program but a movement to improve the quality of life for rural households.
The flagship scheme aims to provide pucca houses with essential amenities to all eligible houseless families, as well as those residing in kutcha or dilapidated homes, by March 2029. In a significant update, the Ministry announced an extension of the scheme to include an additional 2 crore houses, with a total budget allocation of over 3 lakh crore rupees for the next five years. For the current financial year, more than 54 thousand crore rupees have been allocated to implement the scheme.
Originally targeting the completion of 2.95 crore houses by 2023-24, the scheme now sets a more ambitious goal of constructing an additional 2 crore houses. To further enhance inclusivity, the exclusion criteria for eligibility have been reduced from 13 to 10, with conditions such as the ownership of a fishing boat or a motorized two-wheeler removed. Additionally, the income threshold has been raised to 15 thousand rupees per month, allowing more families to benefit from the scheme.
The Ministry also highlighted the convergence of PMAY-G with other key schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G), Jal Jeevan Mission, and Surya Ghar. These programs work together to ensure that beneficiaries have access to vital services such as clean water, toilets, LPG, electricity, and solar energy. Special focus is given to landless beneficiaries, with 2.88 lakh houses and land provided over the past decade.
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin has significantly contributed to improving rural housing infrastructure and continues to play a critical role in uplifting rural communities across India.
