The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin applicants wait for proper housing as only 25 percent of its registered houses are completed in Bengaluru-South.
Bengaluru: Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana’s data showed that 75 percent of its applicants haven’t received their funds for housing in Bengaluru-South. Thirteen applicants from K. Gollahalli gram panchayat had registered for the scheme in 2016. However, none of their houses have been built till now.
The Scheme provides Rs. 1.20 lakh in plains and Rs.1.30 lakh in hilly states and difficult areas. The monetary help was to assist people below the poverty line to get basic facilities in their houses. The facilities include a gas pipeline connection, electricity availability, water connection as well as sanitation facilities for the households.
Many rural applicants don’t have bank accounts linked to their Aadhar card to avail the funds. Ninnegowda. M, a resident of K. Gollahalli said, “We have small huts. No, there is no government house. We also face money problems.”
In Karnataka, the funds are divided between the Central Government and State Government by the ratio of 60:40. The Bengaluru Zilla Panchayat’s Department of Housing said that they are waiting for the monetary sanction from higher authorities. Bhagyashree Kaladagi, Public Desk Officer, Department of Housing, Zilla Parishad, Bengaluru said, “In 2018, we got the guideline to link PMAY-G applicant’s data to Aadhar card. The applicants should get an online verification code. But they don’t have that. So, the verification process is delayed.”
The Gram-Sabha verifies the applicant’s income and livelihood. The information is further used by the Department of Housing to avail of the benefits of the scheme. However, the ignorance about governance and finance-related matters in rural household distances them from such benefit schemes.
Pushkar Ranjan, Rural Development Expert at Professional Assistance for Development Action, India, comments, “The best way to handle the situation is to strengthen the Gram Sabha and mobilize the leaders of Gram Sabha. It can mitigate the corruption.” He also says that initiating government programs to promote governance as well as financial literacy are the most sustainable way to facilitate such schemes.
