Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 27: The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), aimed at providing housing for the homeless in rural areas, has hit a roadblock in Karnataka. Despite the central government setting a target of constructing 2.26 lac houses for beneficiaries in the state during this financial year, progress has been slow, with only 66,000 beneficiaries identified so far in the first nine months of the financial year.

The number of houses constructed during this period is approximately 5,000. Adding to the challenge, the central government has now increased the target, asking Karnataka to identify an additional 4.76 lac beneficiaries within the same financial year.

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Data from the 'Real-Time Dashboard’, maintained by the Union Ministry of Rural Development, highlights the sluggish progress of the scheme in Karnataka. While the central government has set uniform targets for all states, the data indicates a lack of interest among people in Karnataka to avail of the scheme's benefits.

Out of the 2.26 lac houses targeted for this financial year, only 75,000 applications have been received. Analysts point out that this is a significant reason for the scheme’s slow progress. Of the applications received, 85% have been approved, and financial assistance has been sanctioned. However, only 2.35% of the houses have been completed, enabling the beneficiaries to receive the full assistance amount.

According to sources from the state’s rural development department, "On average, the construction of houses approved under the scheme in Karnataka takes about 10 months to complete. Houses sanctioned in different quarters of the financial year are still under construction. Once these are completed, the number of beneficiaries will increase."

Target increased to 7.02 lac houses

The central government, which had originally set the scheme's deadline as December 2024, has now extended it to December 2029. For the financial year 2024-25, Karnataka’s housing target under the scheme has been increased from 2.26 lac to 7.02 lac.

Union minister for rural development Shivraj Singh Chauhan has written to chief minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to expedite the identification of beneficiaries and ensure the scheme's benefits reach the intended population. "An additional target of 4.76 lac houses has been set for Karnataka this financial year. Beneficiaries must be identified, and the scheme’s advantages utilized effectively," the letter stated.

While the extension of the deadline and the increased target aim to provide housing for a larger population, the challenge lies in overcoming the lack of interest among eligible beneficiaries and ensuring timely completion of construction projects.