Housing for all by 2022; Assam cuts a sorry figure

GUWAHATI: Will the slogan – housing for all by 2022 – be a reality in rural Assam? The progress of the PMAYG (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin) in the State, however, cuts a sorry figure.

PMAYG, a centrally-sponsored rural housing scheme, was launched on April 1, 2016. All families who don't have any house to live in or currently living in kutcha and dilapidated houses are eligible beneficiaries under the PMAYG. The beneficiaries of this scheme are being selected from the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census. In accordance with that Census, as many as 8,81,833 families of Assam should get PMAYG houses by 2020.

According to official records from the P&RD (Panchayat and Rural Development) department, as on October 9, 2020 only 3,28,318 PMAYG houses have been completed in rural Assam.

When asked, an official of the department said, "From fiscal 2016-17 to 2019-20 we had a target of erecting 5,15,857 PMAYG houses. Of them, 4,47,447 houses were sanctioned by the government, and of them 3,28,318 houses have been completed. The works of 1.20 lakh such houses have been going on.

"We've a target of 3,65,976 houses for the fiscal 2020-21. However, so far there has been no sanction of houses as our meeting with the empowered committee of the Centre has not been held as yet. Though there had been sluggishness of works at the initial stage, the progress is quite well now. Of course, the progress was affected during the corona-induced lockdown, leading it to a grinding halt.

"A number of beneficiaries did spend the installments paid to them for the construction of houses during the lockdown as they were facing an acute cash crunch. However, such problems have been sorted out and the works are going on in full swing now."

PMAYG funds amounting to Rs 1.30 lakh are given directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries in three installments – Rs 32,500 in the first installment for the foundation of the house, Rs 48,750 in the second installment for the roof level and as much amount in the third installment to give finishing touches to the house.

PMAYG houses are of at least 25-square metre area. The official, however, said that the department would be able to meet the target by 2022. "Assam is always ahead in PMAYG works in the Northeast and other Himalayan States. At the national level, we are among the top ten States," he claimed.

According to official sources, around 3,000 workers who returned to the State because of corona pandemic have also been engaged in PMAYG works under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act).