Issues with PMAY-G Scheme

March 15, 2025

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) is a flagship rural housing scheme launched in India. It aims to provide quality housing to rural households. However, recent criticisms have brought into light shortcomings in its implementation. A Parliamentary Standing Committee report has raised concerns about the identification of beneficiaries and the adequacy of financial support under the scheme.

Background

The PMAY-G was initiated on April 1, 2016.
Its objective is to ensure that every rural household has access to a pucca house with basic amenities.
The original target was to construct 2.95 crore houses.
The scheme was extended in August 2024, aiming to add two crore more houses by 2029.

Issues in Beneficiary Identification

The committee has pointed out that the current beneficiary identification relies on outdated data from the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011. This data is now over 14 years old. Many households that were eligible in 2011 may no longer qualify, while new needy households have emerged. The committee has urged a comprehensive review of the beneficiary list to include these new households.

Financial Assistance Concerns

Currently, the Centre provides ₹1.20 lakh for houses in plains and ₹1.30 lakh in certain states. However, the committee has noted that this amount has not increased despite rising construction costs and inflation. They recommend raising the financial aid to ₹4 lakh per unit to ensure quality housing.

Backlog and Extension Issues

The extension of PMAY-G primarily addresses a backlog rather than creating new opportunities. As of October 2024, 2.66 crore houses were completed, but 29 lakh houses remain pending. The committee estimates a backlog of approximately 1.46 crore houses, indicating that only a fraction of new allocations are being made under the extended scheme.

Recommendations from the Committee

The committee has suggested that the total number of houses planned should be increased to at least 3.46 crore. This figure accounts for the backlog and aims to ensure fresh allocations. The eligibility criteria should also be expanded to include households with semi-permanent structures to reflect current housing realities.

Future Surveys and Data Collection

To address the gaps in beneficiary identification, the government conducted an Awaas+ survey in 2018. A new survey is currently underway, expected to conclude by March 2025. As of February 2025, over 80 lakh households have been surveyed. This data will be crucial for accurately identifying beneficiaries moving forward.

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