In Chhattisgarh, ahead of the assembly elections, the state government has approved housing for 6,99,439 eligible beneficiaries who were on the permanent wait list of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin). The government is also implementing the Gramin Awas Nyay Yojna-Rural (GANY) to address housing needs for those excluded from the 2011 census. This initiative aims to provide durable homes, with 100% state funding allocated for construction, and a budget provision of Rs 100 crore for the fiscal year 2023-24.
In anticipation of the upcoming assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, the state government has taken a significant step to address the housing needs of its citizens. During a recent Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel at his official residence, a decision was made to sanction houses for 6,99,439 eligible beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in rural areas. These individuals have long been on the permanent wait list and have yet to receive the benefits of this vital housing scheme.
One of the key discussions during the meeting was centred around the policy formulation and implementation of the Gramin Awas Nyay Yojna-Rural (GANY), which was announced by the chief minister during the recent monsoon session of the state assembly. The GANY initiative seeks to address the housing needs of families that were excluded from the survey list of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC-2011).
The primary objective of this ambitious endeavour is to provide durable housing to homeless families and those currently residing in makeshift, kutcha houses. The decision to allocate houses to the 6,99,439 eligible families listed in the permanent wait list under PMAY-Gramin reflects the state government's commitment to improving the living conditions of its citizens.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has actively advocated for this cause, recently writing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure housing targets for the beneficiaries still awaiting assistance under PMAY-Gramin. To put things into perspective, a total of 18,75,585 beneficiaries were originally placed on the permanent wait list for rural areas under PMAY, based on the SECC-2011 survey. Between 2016 and 2023, approximately 11,76,146 of these beneficiaries have received housing allocations, and construction for approximately 73.5% (8,63,567) of these houses has been completed. However, there remains a significant gap, with 6,99,439 beneficiaries yet to be covered by the program.
The Chief Minister's commitment to addressing this issue is further exemplified by the introduction of the GANY-Rural program in the state assembly. This initiative aims to utilize state government funds to provide housing to homeless families who were inadvertently excluded from the SECC 2011 survey list.
The importance of such housing initiatives is underlined by recent data from the Chhattisgarh government's State Socio-Economic Survey 2023, which identifies a total of 47,090 families in the state without proper housing. Alarmingly, these families are not included in the SECC 2011 survey list, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions.
In terms of financing, the state government has demonstrated its commitment by allocating 100% of the funds required for the construction of houses under this scheme. An allocation of Rs 100 crore has been made for the fiscal year 2023-24 to support the housing needs of Chhattisgarh's most vulnerable citizens.
In conclusion, the Chhattisgarh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, is taking proactive steps to address the housing crisis in the state. The decision to allocate houses to eligible beneficiaries on the permanent wait list under PMAY -Gramin and the introduction of the GANY-Rural program represent significant milestones in the pursuit of providing dignified housing to all citizens, especially those who have been historically marginalized. As the state prepares for upcoming elections, these initiatives underscore the government's commitment to improving the quality of life for its residents.
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