The government has taken a big decision under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Now the approval has been given by the Central Government to extend this scheme till 2024. This means that the remaining poor families are going to get housing under this scheme. According to one figure, about 122 lakh families will be given house facility during this extended period.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the continuation of the government’s flagship housing scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana -Urban (PMAY-U) till 2024. This proposal was introduced by the Ministry, which has been approved. According to the Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHU), the already sanctioned 122.69 lakh houses are to be provided financial assistance for completion by March 31, 2022.
According to the data released under this scheme, the original estimated demand in 2017 was 100 lakh houses. Against this original estimated demand, 102 lakh houses are under construction and out of these 62 lakh houses have been completed.
A senior official said that out of the total 123 lakh houses approved during the last two years, proposals of 40 lakh houses have been received late from the states and union territories, which require another two years to complete. Therefore, based on the requests of the States and Union Territories, the Union Cabinet decided to extend the period of implementation of PMAY-U till 2024.
Significantly, PM Awas Yojana was started to give benefits to poor families, but later it was started to give benefits to urban people also. Under this scheme, money is given in installments to the poor families of the villagers for the construction of pucca houses. In this the center provides financial assistance, the states/UTs implement the scheme including the selection of beneficiaries.
During 2004-2014, 8.04 lakh houses were completed under the Urban Housing Scheme. Under the Modi government, the issue of providing houses in saturation mode to all eligible urban residents was brought to the attention and the scheme of PMAY-Urban was conceptualized.
Significantly, the central assistance sanctioned since 2015 is Rs 2.03 lakh crore as against Rs 20,000 crore in 2004-2014. Central assistance and subsidy of Rs 1,18,020.46 crore has already been released till 31st March, 2022 and Rs 85,406 crore will be released by 31st December, 2024.
