Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G)

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G): A Step Towards Rural Housing for All

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) is a flagship scheme launched by the Government of India, aimed at addressing the housing needs of the rural poor. It was introduced in April 2016, replacing the earlier Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY). The core objective of PMAY-G is to provide pucca (permanent) houses with basic amenities to homeless families and those living in kaccha (temporary) or dilapidated houses in rural India. The vision is aligned with the government’s broader initiative of ensuring “Housing for All by 2022,” now extended to March 2029.

Objective and Vision

PMAY-G envisions building a strong and inclusive rural India where every citizen has access to safe, secure, and dignified housing. The scheme seeks to eliminate homelessness and improve the quality of life in rural areas by constructing affordable and durable homes. The homes are designed to be climate-resilient and culturally appropriate, using eco-friendly materials and locally suitable designs.

Target and Coverage

The revised target under PMAY-G is to build 4.95 crore homes across India by March 2029. The beneficiaries are selected based on deprivation parameters identified in the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, verified through Gram Sabha. The scheme is implemented across all rural districts in India, covering diverse geographical and socio-economic landscapes.

✅Key Features of PMAY-G

1. Financial Assistance

Under PMAY-G, the government provides direct financial assistance to eligible rural households to construct pucca houses:

₹1.20 lakh in plain areas
₹1.30 lakh in hilly regions, difficult terrains, and Integrated Action Plan (IAP) districts

The cost-sharing ratio between the central and state governments is:

60:40 for plain areas
90:10 for northeastern states, Himalayan states, and Union Territories

2. Convergence with Other Schemes

PMAY-G promotes a holistic approach to rural housing by converging with other government schemes:

Toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin
LPG connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
Electricity connections under Saubhagya Yojana
Drinking water supply under Jal Jeevan Mission
Unskilled labor wages under MGNREGA for up to 90–95 days

3. House Design and Construction

The scheme promotes the use of local materials and traditional knowledge, ensuring houses are climate-resilient and cost-effective. Beneficiaries have the flexibility to design homes as per local needs, but the minimum carpet area must be 25 square meters, including a dedicated hygienic cooking space.

4. Technology-Driven Monitoring

PMAY-G uses modern technology for effective implementation:

AwaasSoft: A software platform for monitoring beneficiary progress
AwaasApp: A mobile application used for geo-tagging and real-time monitoring of house construction stages
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Ensures that the financial assistance is credited directly to the beneficiary’s bank account, eliminating middlemen and corruption

✅Eligibility Criteria

The identification of beneficiaries is based on SECC 2011 data, excluding families who already have a permanent house or whose economic condition doesn't qualify them. The following families are considered eligible:

Households without shelter
Households living in 0, 1, or 2-room kaccha houses
Households with no adult member (16–59 years)
Female-headed households with no adult male member
Households with no literate adult above 25 years
Landless families deriving livelihood from manual casual labor
SC/ST, minorities, and other vulnerable groups

✅Exclusion Criteria

The scheme excludes households that have any of the following:

Motorized vehicles (2/3/4-wheelers or boats)
Mechanized agricultural equipment
A Kisan Credit Card (KCC) limit above ₹50,000
A government job or income above ₹10,000/month
A refrigerator, landline phone, or a significant property
Income Tax or Professional Tax-paying members

✅Application Process

1. Online Application

Eligible individuals can apply online via the official PMAY-G portal:
🔗 https://pmayg.nic.in

Steps:

Register using Aadhaar number
Fill in personal, family, and housing details
Upload documents (if applicable)
Submit for verification by Gram Sabha

2. Mobile App Application

The AwaasApp (available on Google Play Store) allows users to:

Track application status
Geo-tag house construction
Upload construction photos

3. Offline Registration

Individuals can also apply by visiting:

Gram Panchayat Office
Block Development Office (BDO)
With help from village functionaries and Panchayat Secretary

✅Funding and Implementation Partners

The scheme is implemented in partnership with:

Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)
State Rural Housing Departments
Panchayati Raj Institutions
District and Block Level Officers

Financial support is also received from institutions like NABARD, and the technical support comes from NIUA, UNDP, and other development partners.

✅Benefits and Impact

Since its inception, PMAY-G has significantly impacted rural India by:

Improving living conditions and health through safer housing
Empowering women by mandating property registration in the woman’s name (sole or joint ownership)
Boosting employment through construction and use of local labor
Encouraging digital inclusion via mobile-based monitoring tools
Reducing the rural-urban migration caused by inadequate shelter

✅Challenges

Despite its success, PMAY-G has faced challenges such as:

Delays in fund disbursal in certain states
Difficulty in reaching remote regions
Mismatch in SECC data and ground realities
Limited construction skills in tribal or backward areas

To address these, the government has initiated:

Capacity-building programs
Training for rural masons
Regular updates to the beneficiary database

✅Helpline and Support

For assistance, beneficiaries can contact:

📞 Toll-Free Numbers:
- 1800-11-6446
- 1800-11-8111
📧 Email:
- support-pmayg@gov.in
- helpdesk-pfms@gov.in

✅Conclusion

The Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin represents a transformative step in India’s journey toward inclusive development. By providing secure, sustainable, and dignified housing to the rural poor, it not only addresses shelter needs but also improves health, safety, women’s empowerment, and social equity. As the scheme continues till 2029, it is expected to bring millions more families out of homelessness and into safe, government-supported homes — turning the dream of “Housing for All” into a reality.

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G)