Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG)

What is Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG)?

The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMAYG) is a central government initiative aimed at ensuring accessible housing for the rural poor. This flagship program focuses on replacing makeshift dwellings with solid, well-equipped houses, complete with proper kitchen facilities. It succeeds the Indira Awaas Yojana, a similar government welfare program launched in 1985, and is recognised as one of the most comprehensive social schemes.

Objectives of PMAYG

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin aims to offer financial aid to economically disadvantaged individuals, enabling them to access housing infrastructure services. Beneficiaries of the PMAYG will not only receive permanent housing but also additional amenities such as electricity, LPG, and road connectivity.

Under the ambitious ‘Housing for All’ initiative, a 25-square metre permanent house will be constructed, along with the associated conveniences. In 2019, the Minister for Rural Development conducted a review of this scheme, and recent studies indicate that the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana has made significant progress towards achieving its goals.

Features of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG) Scheme

Here are the key elements of the PM Awas Yojana Gramin:

1. The expenses associated with providing housing assistance to rural individuals in need will be shared between the Central and State Governments. The distribution ratio is 60:40, with the respective state contributing 40%. In non-hilly states, each state’s contribution will be ₹1.20 lakh.
2. In hilly states, particularly in Northern States, the funding ratio is 90:10, with the Central Government providing 90% of the funds. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir follows the same pattern. For these states, the total amount available is ₹1.30 lakh, dedicated to constructing permanent housing.
3. All other Union Territories will receive 100% funding from the Central Government, with no specific breakdown of total costs.
4. The PM Awas Yojana Gramin scheme aims to replace all existing temporary housing units and significantly enhance the living conditions of the rural poor.
5. An additional financial assistance of ₹12,000 per beneficiary will be provided for the construction of permanent toilets alongside each house. This extra support falls under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) to ensure improved sanitary living conditions, which is also a government flagship program.
6. All beneficiaries under this scheme will also receive ₹90.95 per day for unskilled labour as part of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
7. Beneficiary selection will be based on social indicators determined by the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC). The respective gram sabhas will oversee data verification and pass this information to the administration.
8. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin is designed to be fully transparent. All payments will be directly transferred to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, with Aadhaar data verification to ensure that payments are directed only to those in need.

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG) Eligibility Requirements 

The following groups of individuals are eligible to receive the benefits of PMAYG:

1. Families without land or a place to live.
2. Families residing in one or two-room non-permanent (kaccha) dwellings where the walls and roofs are not made of concrete.
3. Households lacking a literate male member aged 25 years or older.
4. Families without a member aged between 15 and 59 years.
5. Families with a disabled member are also qualified to access benefits through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Gramin Yojana.
6. Individuals who do not hold permanent employment and primarily work as casual labourers.
7. People from minority communities, as well as those belonging to Scheduled Tribes and Castes, are also encompassed within the scope of this program.

Documents Required to Apply for Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG)

The necessary documents for availing the benefits of this housing scheme include:

1. The applicant’s Aadhaar number and a self-attested copy of their Aadhaar Card. In case the beneficiary is unable to read and write, a consent letter must be acquired, along with the beneficiary’s thumbprint.
2. A valid job beneficiary card registered with MGNREGA.
3. Original and duplicate copies of the applicant’s bank account details.
4. The applicant’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) number.

How to Apply/Register/Add Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG) Beneficiary 

Here are the steps to follow when adding a new beneficiary to the PMAYG program. This applies specifically to qualified individuals who have not yet been included in the database:

1. Access the official website of the PMAY-G and log in.
2. Complete all the personal details fields, including gender, Aadhaar number, mobile number, and other relevant information.
3. Upload the previously mentioned consent letter for using Aadhaar data in its entirety.
4. A ‘search’ button will now be visible. Click on it to retrieve beneficiary details and check if the case holds any priority.
5. Proceed to click on ‘Register.’
6. The beneficiary’s details will automatically populate. Ensure that the provided information is accurate and up-to-date.
7. Fill in the remaining fields, including Aadhaar details, nomination details, bank account information, etc.
8. If the beneficiary wishes to apply for a loan under this scheme, they can click on ‘Yes’ and specify the loan amount required.
9. Finally, upload SBM and MGNREGS details to complete the process.

Beneficiary List for Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG) 

The government employs a method to choose beneficiaries for the PMAYG program, which involves utilising the Socio-Economic Caste Census of 2011 (SECC). The beneficiary selection process unfolds in the following manner:

1. The SECC is meant to compile a roster of potential beneficiaries.
2. These potential beneficiaries are then categorised based on priority.
3. The list is subsequently submitted to Gram Sabhas for validation.
4. After verification, a definitive beneficiary list is compiled and made public.
5. Furthermore, annual beneficiary lists are generated.

How to Check PMAYG Application Status?

You can check the progress of your PMAYG application by following these steps on the official Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin website:

1. Visit the official PMAYG website.
2. On the website, locate and click on “FTO Tracking” under the “Awaassoft” section.
3. To verify the status of your PMAYG application, provide either your Fund Transfer Order (FTO) number or your Public Finance Management System (PFMS) ID.

Conclusion

The Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG) aims to make significant strides in improving housing conditions in rural India, positively impacting the lives of many disadvantaged families. It reflects the government’s commitment to promoting affordable housing and improving the overall quality of life in rural areas. To sustain and enhance its impact, ongoing attention to program implementation and addressing challenges is crucial.

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