The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has recommended a much-needed increase in the financial assistance provided under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G). The scheme, which aims to build two crore homes by March 2029, has faced challenges due to stagnant per-unit assistance, which has remained at Rs 1.2 lakh for plain areas and Rs 1.3 lakh for hilly areas for an extended period.
Led by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, the committee pointed out that the current financial support is insufficient due to rising inflation, which impacts raw material costs, labor, and transportation expenses. This shortfall has led to incomplete houses in some cases, hampering the progress of the housing scheme. The committee emphasized that for the “Housing for All” vision to succeed, beneficiaries must receive appropriate financial support at the right time, and it urged an urgent review and hike of the per-unit assistance to help beneficiaries complete their homes. The committee also highlighted a significant issue faced by landless beneficiaries. More than two lakh such individuals are still waiting for land or assistance from state governments to construct their homes. This delay further threatens the timely completion of the housing target.
The report also noted that while the initial target was to construct 2.95 crore houses by March 2024, 2.66 crore homes had been completed by October 2022, leaving 29 lakh homes still unfinished. To address this, the government has set an ambitious target of constructing an additional two crore homes over the next five years (2024-2029). With the scheme extended until 2029, the committee has recommended a revision of the financial assistance to meet the new goals and ensure timely project completion. It also called on the Department of Rural Development to take proactive steps in expediting construction and addressing the issue of land availability for landless beneficiaries. Additionally, the committee raised concerns about the low pension amounts under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which provides support to elderly, widows, and disabled persons from BPL households. The report noted that the pensions of Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month were inadequate given the rising cost of living. This call for increased assistance and policy reform aims to ensure that rural housing targets are met and that beneficiaries can complete their homes with the financial support they need.
