CM Revanth Reddy’s efforts bore fruit to get TG back in the fold, said Khammam MP

mahesh avadhutha I hyderabad

The Union Cabinet has approved the implementation of the scheme for 5 more years during FY 2024-25 to 2028-29 to provide assistance for the construction of 2 crore additional rural houses. Approval has also been provided for updating the Awaas+ list for identifying eligible rural households using modified exclusion criteria under the scheme.

In line with the approval of the Union Cabinet, a survey is being conducted for the identification of additional eligible rural households under the scheme. The survey is being conducted through Awaas+ 2024 Mobile App which has already been launched in September 2024 with modified exclusion criteria.

The Government of India has stated that Telangana failed to implement the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G), leading to no fund allocation for the state under the scheme for the last three years.

As per the Ministry of Rural Development’s response in the Lok Sabha, Telangana was sanctioned 70,674 houses for the financial years 2016-17 and 2017-18, with Rs 190.79 crores released as the first installment of the central share. However, Telangana did not implement the scheme and refunded the amount to the Centre.

Furthermore, Telangana did not conduct the Awaas+ 2018 survey between January 2018 and March 2019, which is critical for identifying eligible beneficiaries under PMAY-G. As a result, no new targets were assigned to the state, and no funds were allocated for the past three years, including for the current financial year 2024-25, stated Minister of State for Rural Development Dr Chandrasekhar Pemmasani in response to an unstarred question from Khammam MP Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy.

The Union government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring housing for all under PMAY-G and urged states to actively participate in the scheme for the benefit of rural households. The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of PMAY-G till March, 2029 as per the existing unit assistance for construction of 2 crore more houses.

Cong govt made amends

Despite the past inaction, the Congress government has recently expressed its willingness to implement PMAY-G in the state for the financial year 2024-25. In response, the Ministry of Rural Development is currently facilitating the state in conducting the Awaas+ 2024 survey, using face-based authentication to identify eligible rural households

CM Revanth Reddy’s intervention paid dividends: Khammam MP

Speaking to this paper, Khammam MP R Raghuram Reddy said that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has reached out to Government of India on getting Telangana into the PMAY-G fold and submitted representations to the Central ministers on various occasions. The Congress government’s efforts ultimately bore fruit, he said.

“There was ambiguity regarding Centre’s response to our demand. However, with the minister’s reply all doubts have been addressed,” Raghuram Reddy said. The MP said that survey for 2024-25 is being done and budget will be accorded on data received from Telangana. Earlier matching grant of Rs 190 crore not utilized, he added. eKYC done: Telangana­­ Housing Corporation

M­­eanwhile, Telangana Housing Corporation officials stated that eKYC process to identify the beneficiaries has been completed. In parallel we are in the process of preparing the beneficiaries list for the state government’s Indiramma Indlu scheme, which is an ongoing procedure. 

Discussions are on to suggest the Centre if the Indiramma Indlu data can be utilized even for the PMAY-G scheme to finalize the beneficiaries as the objectives of the two schemes are similar. However, nothing has been finalized as yet, stated the authorities.