Why in the News?

Launched on 20^th November 2016, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Rural (PMAY-Rural) marks eight successful years of empowering the nation's poorest with secure housing. The scheme ensures targeted assistance through a rigorous three-stage validation process, including Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC 2011), Awaas+ (2018) surveys, Gram Sabha approvals, and geo-tagging.

About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Rural (PMAY-Rural)

• Launched Date: 20^th November 2016
• Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
• Key Features:
  • House Design:
  • Minimum size: 25 sq. meters, including a hygienic cooking space.
  • Options for structurally sound, aesthetic, and region-specific designs.
  • Construction Support:
  • Use of local materials and trained masons.
  • Financial assistance: ₹1.20 lakh for plain areas and ₹1.30 lakh for North-Eastern, hill, and Himalayan regions.
  • Loan of up to ₹70,000 available at a 3% reduced interest rate.
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • Houseless Households: Families without any shelter.
  • Kuccha Houses: Homes with kuccha walls/roofs or those with zero to two rooms (as per SECC 2011).
• Compulsory Inclusion:
  • Destitute households.
  • Manual scavengers.
  • Primitive Tribal Groups.
  • Legally released bonded laborers.
• Convergence with Other Schemes:
  • Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin: ₹12,000 for toilet construction.
  • MGNREGA: 95 days of wage employment for construction.
  • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: Free LPG connections for beneficiaries.
  • Piped Water and Electricity: Ensure access to safe drinking water and regular electricity.
• Funding and Allocation:
  • Total outlay: ₹3,06,137 crore (2024-29).
  • Allocation for FY 2024-25: ₹54,500 crore.
• Technological Innovations:
  • Awaas+ App: Aadhaar-based face authentication for beneficiary verification.
  • Geo-Tagging: Monitor construction progress through photos.
  • 3D House Designs: Collaborated with CBRI to offer diverse design options.
• Progress:
  • Houses sanctioned: 3.21 crore.
  • Houses completed: 2.67 crore.
  • Beneficiaries impacted: Over 10 crore individuals.