New Delhi, Dec 13: The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G) has been extended until March 2029, with a goal to construct an additional two crore homes. In light of this, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended an increase in the assistance provided under the scheme.
The Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, led by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, highlighted that the financial assistance under the scheme has remained stagnant at Rs 1.2 lakh for a long time. This has often resulted in incomplete houses due to insufficient funding.
In its report, which was presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the committee noted that the "Housing for All" vision might not be fully realized unless beneficiaries receive adequate financial support at the right time and amount.
The report highlighted the current challenges of the scheme, including the unchanged financial assistance of Rs 1.2 lakh for plain areas and Rs 1.3 lakh for hilly regions, despite rising construction costs due to inflation. Additionally, over two lakh landless beneficiaries are still awaiting state support to purchase land.
As of October 22, 2.66 crore homes have been built against an initial target of 2.95 crore, leaving 29 lakh homes incomplete. The government has approved the construction of two crore more homes by 2029. The committee has called for an urgent review of per-unit assistance and recommended policies to address the issue of landless beneficiaries.
(With inputs from agency)
