Poverty Free Villages: Rural Development Ministry

Source: PIB (Poverty free village)

Why in News

The Ministry of Rural Development is working tirelessly to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a poverty-free India through the timely implementation of various flagship schemes. The New Year review led by Rural Development Minister emphasized the importance of goal-oriented planning, with monthly targets set for major programs such as MNREGA, PMAY-G, PMGSY, DAY-NRLM, and others.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G)

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) was launched in 2016 to provide “Housing for All” in rural areas by ensuring affordable, quality housing for the rural poor. Beneficiaries are selected using Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data, approved through Gram Sabhas and verified via geo-tagging.

Relevance with UPSC Syllabus

  • GS-II (Governance & Welfare Schemes): Role of government initiatives in promoting social justice and improving the living standards of marginalized communities.
  • GS-III (Economic Development): Rural development, inclusive growth, and poverty alleviation.
  • Essay Topics: Housing for All, Poverty Alleviation through Developmental Initiatives.

Key Facts About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin PMAY-G

  1. Benefits Provided under:
    • Financial Assistance:
      • ₹1.20 lakh for houses in plain areas.
      • ₹1.30 lakh for houses in Hill States (Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand), the North-Eastern Region, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh.
    • Cost Sharing:
      • 60:40 (Centre: State) in plain areas.
      • 90:10 in northeastern and Himalayan states.
      • 100% Centre-funded for Ladakh.
    • Toilet Support: ₹12,000 under Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) for constructing toilets.
    • Cooking Fuel: LPG connections provided in convergence with Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
    • Employment Support: 90-95 person-days of unskilled labor under MGNREGA for house construction.
  2. Targeted Beneficiaries:
    • 60% earmarked for SC/ST households.
    • As of November 2024, 59.58 lakh SC and 58.57 lakh ST houses have been completed.
  3. Achievements:
    • 3.21 crore houses sanctioned.
    • 2.67 crore houses completed by November 2024.
    • 4.19 lakh houses completed between June and December 2024, including 71,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).
  4. Technological Interventions:
    • Awas Plus-2024 App: Streamlines beneficiary identification.
    • Awas Sakhi App: Enhances transparency and monitoring of implementation.
  5. Extension:
    • Initially targeting 2.95 crore houses by 2023-24, the scheme has been extended to construct 2 crore additional houses with a financial outlay of ₹3,06,137 crore for FY 2024-29.

Advantages and Challenges

AdvantagesChallenges
Ensures safe, affordable housing for rural poor, enhancing dignity and quality of life.Delay in implementation due to administrative bottlenecks and inter-departmental coordination.
Promotes social equity by prioritizing SC/ST households and marginalized sections.Insufficient funding for quality housing and infrastructure in some areas.
Boosts rural employment through convergence with MGNREGA.Exclusion errors due to reliance on outdated SECC 2011 data.
Improves sanitation and health through SBM-G and access to LPG.Challenges in monitoring and transparency, especially in remote areas.
Incorporates technology for real-time beneficiary tracking and reduced fraud.Technological challenges such as lack of digital literacy or network access in rural areas.

Way Forward

  1. Focus on Timely Implementation: Streamline administrative processes and improve inter-departmental coordination to ensure timely delivery of houses.
  2. Dynamic Data Updation: Periodically update beneficiary data to include recently deprived households and improve accuracy.
  3. Capacity Building: Train local officials and workers in rural areas to enhance efficiency in scheme implementation.
  4. Monitoring and Transparency:
    • Expand the use of mobile applications like Awas Sakhi App for real-time tracking.
    • Involve community-based monitoring mechanisms to improve accountability.
  5. Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate rural households about the scheme’s benefits and eligibility to ensure no eligible beneficiary is left out.
  6. Strengthen Convergence:
    • Integrate PMAY-G with other schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission and Saubhagya to create holistic rural development.
    • Collaborate with state governments to address region-specific housing challenges.

By intensifying efforts under PMAY-G, India can progress toward poverty-free villages and ensure inclusive, sustainable development in rural areas.

Key Achievements of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) (Poverty free villages):

  1. Extension of the Scheme:
    • In August 2024, PMAY-G was extended for another five years, targeting 2 crore additional houses by FY 2029.
    • New eligibility rules were introduced to include more families under the scheme.
  2. Technological Advancements:
    • Awas Plus-2024 App: Launched in September 2024 to streamline beneficiary identification and enhance efficiency.
    • Awas Sakhi App: Launched in October 2024 for better monitoring and transparency.
  3. Budget Allocation:
    • The FY 2024-25 budget for PMAY-G was raised to a record ₹54,500 crore, showcasing the government’s commitment to affordable housing.
  4. Progress in Housing Construction:
    • Out of the target of 42 lakh houses for FY 2024-25:
      • 31.65 lakh houses sanctioned.
      • 4.19 lakh houses completed, including 71,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).
  5. Future Goals (January 2025):
    • Sanction the pending 10 lakh houses from the 2024-25 target.
    • Release the first installment to beneficiaries promptly.

Key Rural Development Schemes Driving Progress

SchemeObjectiveFocus Area
MGNREGAEmployment generation through unskilled labor.Rural infrastructure and economic upliftment.
PMGSYDevelopment of rural roads to enhance connectivity.Better access to markets, healthcare, and education.
DAY-NRLMPromoting self-employment and entrepreneurship among rural women.Poverty reduction through capacity building and credit linkage.
PMAY-GProviding affordable housing to rural poor.Targeting “Housing for All” by 2029.
National Social Assistance Program (NSAP)Financial assistance to elderly, widows, and disabled individuals.Social security for vulnerable sections of society.

Way Forward for a Poverty-Free Village Vision

  1. Goal-Oriented Implementation:
    Monthly target-setting across all rural schemes will ensure timely and efficient execution.
  2. Monitoring and Transparency:
    Mobile applications like Awas Plus-2024 and Awas Sakhi must be further integrated to enhance real-time tracking and accountability.
  3. Inclusive Development:
    The newly revised eligibility rules under PMAY-G should ensure no vulnerable family is excluded from the benefits.
  4. Capacity Building:
    Training local officials to efficiently manage and monitor schemes will help bridge administrative gaps.
  5. Public Awareness Campaigns:
    Educating rural beneficiaries about their entitlements under these schemes will ensure wider reach and inclusion.
  6. Holistic Rural Development:
    Strengthen convergence between schemes like PMAY-G, MNREGA, SBM-G, and Ujjwala Yojana to provide housing with sanitation, employment, and clean energy.

By intensifying its efforts and leveraging technology and financial commitment, the Rural Development Ministry is making steady strides towards realizing the dream of poverty-free villages and transforming rural India.

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