Eight Years of PMAY-G: Transforming Rural India with Homes and Hope 

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, has completed eight years of empowering rural communities through housing. This flagship scheme has already changed the lives of millions by providing permanent homes to the rural poor and is now advancing with a renewed focus in its second phase.

Over the past eight years, the scheme has sanctioned 29.5 million houses, with 27 million already constructed. Following the government’s re-election in 2024, an additional 20 million houses have been approved for construction, with the aim to complete them by 2029. The initiative continues to address the housing needs of rural India, ensuring that every deserving family has a safe and secure place to call home.

To meet the ambitious targets of the second phase, the Union Rural Development Ministry has launched the Awas-Plus 2024 survey, employing advanced technology like face-recognition tools. This survey allows beneficiaries to conduct a “self-survey” through the Awaassoft mobile app, addressing long-standing grievances of households excluded in previous surveys. The initiative is expected to identify 8 million new beneficiaries while prioritizing first-time applicants.

A hallmark of PMAY-G is its focus on women’s empowerment. In the first phase, 74% of houses were registered in the names of women or jointly with their spouses. The government aims to ensure 100% ownership by women in the second phase, making the program a catalyst for social and economic change in rural areas.

Financially, the scheme provides ₹1.2 lakh for houses in plains and ₹1.3 lakh for those in hilly areas, with an additional ₹40,000 offered through convergence with other government initiatives like MGNREGA and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin. While there were discussions about increasing per-unit assistance, it was noted that beneficiaries often invest additional resources to enhance their homes.

As part of its implementation strategy, states have been directed to complete the beneficiary surveys by November 30, 2024, and sanction homes by December 31, 2024. Construction is targeted for completion within a year, underscoring the government’s commitment to timely execution.

PMAY-G, in its eight years, has not only provided homes but has also paved the way for improved living standards, economic stability and gender equity in rural India. With its innovative approach and inclusive policies, the program is set to transform millions more lives in the years ahead.