Housing For All By 2022: Slow progress & missing targets mark scheme in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The abysmally slow progress in the construction of houses under the PMAY-G (Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin) in Assam has all the hallmark of missing the target – ‘Housing for all by 2022’. The nodal department, P&RD (Panchayat & Rural Development) implementing the scheme in the State, however, hopes that it will meet the target even as it has been running behind schedule.

Under the PMAY-G, being implemented by the Union Ministry of Rural Development, the beneficiaries are provided unit assistance of Rs. 1.20 lakh in plains and Rs. 1.30 lakh in hills for the construction of pucca (concrete) houses.

However, the progress of the scheme in Assam has not been smooth. The delay of the scheme in the State has come to such a pass that as many as 66,029 target beneficiaries of the phase-I of the scheme from 2016-17 to 2018-19 are yet to get their houses constructed till the first week of December 2019. Under phase-I of the scheme, only 1,93,785 of the 2,59,814 target houses could be completed.

The progress of the phase-II of the scheme in the State is no better either. This phase ranging from 2019-20 to 2021-22 has a target of constructing two lakh houses. In 2019-20, as many as 1,58,914 houses have been approved, but only 250 houses have been constructed till the first week of December 2019.

When asked on the delay in the scheme, sources in the department said that the construction work got stuck in time warp due to non-release of funds by the Centre. They, however, said that the Centre is now releasing the funds and the scheme is progressing. They are hopeful of meeting the target of the scheme – 2022.

However, the ground reality is that apart from the construction of two lakh houses under phase-II, the department has to construct 66,029 more carryover houses from the phase-I of the scheme.

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