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The rural development ministry has outlined significant progress under various schemes, with Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announcing the allocation of 3.8 million houses under the PMAY-G this fiscal year. An initial INR 10,668 crore has been released for construction. The ministry also reported a total expenditure of INR 1.03 lakh crore out of its budgeted INR 1.84 lakh crore. Plans to build 20 million rural houses over five years have been approved, with 26.8 million already completed since 2016. Chouhan highlighted initiatives for empowering women through self-help groups and constructing rural roads under the PMGSY. He reaffirmed commitments to ensure housing for all eligible beneficiaries and addressed concerns about MGNREGS funding in West Bengal, linking it to compliance with legal requirements.
Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently announced that 3.8 million houses have been allocated under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) for 18 states this fiscal year. This allocation is part of the ministry's broader target to construct 20 million new rural housing units over the next five years. An initial fund of INR 10,668 crore has been disbursed to commence these constructions. Advertisement
Chouhan shared that the ministry has already utilised INR 1.03 lakh crore of its budgeted INR 1.84 lakh crore to fulfil commitments across various schemes this fiscal. Speaking to reporters in the capital, he noted that a total of 29.5 million rural houses are targeted for completion under PMAY-G since its 2016 launch, with 26.8 million already delivered.
He revealed plans for a fresh survey to identify additional beneficiaries, emphasising the relaxed eligibility criteria under PMAY-G. The minister expressed the government's dedication to ensuring every poor household has access to housing, stating that no eligible beneficiary would be overlooked, with states playing a vital role in this mission. Chouhan highlighted progress under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, which aims to increase the earnings of women through self-help groups. He stated that the number of women earning at least INR 1 lakh annually has risen to 11.5 million, up from 10 million a few months ago, with plans to triple this figure to 30 million as outlined in the July budget.
Discussing rural infrastructure, Chouhan noted that under the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), approvals have been given for the construction of 6,614 km of rural roads, with 3,380 km slated for West Bengal. He mentioned that the government sanctioned a package of INR 70,125 crore for this phase, targeting the completion of 62,500 km of rural roads by 2029 to connect 25,000 habitations.
Additionally, under the previous PMGSY phase, 7,058 km of roads have been constructed out of the 9,013 km sanctioned during the Modi 3.0 regime. Since the scheme's inception in 2000, 769,284 km of rural roads have been constructed against a sanctioned length of 834,457 km. Addressing concerns over suspended MGNREGS funds for West Bengal, Chouhan clarified that the central government would release funds once the state rectifies irregularities and complies with legal provisions. He dismissed accusations of discrimination, citing substantial road construction allocations for West Bengal under PMGSY-IV as evidence of the Centre's impartiality.
The rural development ministry has demonstrated its commitment to improving rural livelihoods through ambitious housing, road construction, and women's empowerment initiatives. Progress under PMAY-G and PMGSY underscores efforts to enhance infrastructure and living standards in rural areas. Simultaneously, initiatives like Lakhpati Didi reflect the government's focus on financial inclusion and women's development. While challenges remain, such as compliance issues in MGNREGS implementation in West Bengal, the ministry's proactive measures highlight its dedication to achieving holistic rural development across India.
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