Rural Development Ministry Targets High Growth for 2024 in an Attempt to Fight Poverty and Housing Needs.
The Rural Development Ministry has declared it will focus on housing and its timely implementation along with other targets set for 2024-25. For this purpose, the ministry claims that it will provide its sanction for 10 lakh houses under PMAY-G. It is working on an endeavor to reduce the level of poverty and enhance the welfare of people from rural areas as well.
There is also an official announcement issued by the ministry stating the agenda of formulating a plan regarding setting up specific targets every month in order to appropriately implement rural development schemes, meeting the vision Prime Minister Narendra Modi had of achieving poverty-free India.
Rural Housing
In fact, in January itself, the emphasis for the government ministry would remain on the sanctioned amount of 10 lakh houses pertaining to the scheme, PMAY-G. And for that cause, it shall disburse funds with the initial tranche along with other due advantages to such families.
PMAY-G is one of the most important elements of the government’s efforts in dealing with rural housing shortages. The scheme, extended for another five years in August 2024, aims at building two crore additional houses by 2029. This is likely to bring relief to families residing in rural areas who do not have adequate housing.
Apart from housing, the Rural Development Ministry is aiming at wider objectives under various schemes, such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM), which are essentially job-creation, infrastructure-improvement, and rural-community empowerment schemes.
Target-Driven Approach
To implement the above schemes well within the target period, the Ministry of Rural Development has opted for a process to fix yearly monthly targets. Thus, this shall enable the procedure to become all the more systematic, ensuring benefits under these schemes to reach beneficiaries transparently within due time.
The ministry is also focusing on timely release of funds and ensuring that construction and development projects under these schemes progress as scheduled. One of the major objectives is creating “poverty-free villages,” which means the implementation of government schemes in full in rural areas.
Allocation and Changes to Budget in Housing Scheme
Recently, the budget of PMAY-G scheme has risen a lot. Under this head, the allotment of this scheme for the year 2024-25 has been the highest ever since the inception with an amount of Rs 54,500 crores. This allotment is more so to enhance construction speed in such a manner that more households would be beneficiary to the program.
Besides this, the government has also made several changes in the eligibility criteria of the scheme so that more families can benefit from PMAY-G. The expected outcome is to expand the coverage of the program so that more rural households are included.
Progress and Achievements
Till date of December 2024, total 31.65 lakh houses have been sanctioned under PMAY-G against the annual target set for the year 42 lakh houses. Of the total, 4.19 lakh houses are completed between June and December 2024 and 71,000 houses are sanctioned under PM Janman.
Despite the weaknesses in the houses sanctioned, the government is still upbeat that the new targets for 2024-25 will be attained because of the new monthly target system and better budgetary provisions.
A Leap Towards Poverty Eradication
Focus on rural housing is a component that the government must consider under its overall policy in order to reduce poverty in rural settings. In that case, the government would be providing the population with affordable housing coupled with schemes of employment that create jobs and also enhance the infrastructure so that millions of families may get out of poverty with a better quality of life.
Looking Forward
The Rural Development Ministry will strictly monitor the performances of the schemes in the forthcoming months and correct accordingly to fulfill the set goals. The government is confident to achieve its target ambitious housing, as it also feels that after taking the new measure, the long-standing goal to create a poverty-free India becomes feasible.
These programs will succeed if the plans are executed on time, state governments collaborate with the ministry, and funds allocated for the programs are utilized efficiently. The ministry will also work towards ensuring that the implementation of these schemes is transparent enough to ensure that the benefits reach the target beneficiaries.
Source: Ministry of Rural Development