Centre introduces penalty clause under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)

The Union Ministry of Rural Development has come up with a set of penalties that the State governments will have to bear for any further delay in completion of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).

• This is the first time, since the scheme PMAY (G) started in April 2016 with a target of constructing 2.95 crore houses, that the Union Government has introduced a penalty clause.

Six penalty clauses

• On September 13, the Ministry sent a circular to all States listing out six penalty clauses:

• If the sanction of the house is delayed for more than one month from the date of issue of the target, the State government will be penalised Rs. 10 per house for the first month of delay and Rs. 20 per house for each subsequent month of delay.

• If the first instalment due to the beneficiary is delayed for more than seven days from the date of sanction, then the State governments will have to pay Rs. 10 per house per week of delay.

• No penalty would be imposed if the central funds are not available with the State.

• West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Assam, are the leading four States who are far behind their targets.

About PMAY (G)

• In order to achieve the target of “Housing for All” in rural areas, the Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) with effect from 1^st April, 2016 to provide assistance to eligible rural households with overall target to construct 2.95 crore pucca houses with basic amenities by March, 2024.

• The initial deadline for the scheme was March 2022, which owing to the COVID-19 pandemic was extended by another two years till March 2024.

• Under the PMAY (G) scheme, the government has set itself a target of 2.95 crore houses. This number was deduced from the Socio-Economic Caste Survey, 2011.

• Under the scheme, monetary assistance of Rs.1.20 lakh in plains and Rs.1.30 lakh in hilly states, difficult areas, and Integrated Action Plan districts in tribal and backward is provided.

• Houses under PMAY come equipped with toilet, Saubhagya Yojna electricity Connection, Ujala Scheme LED bulb, Ujjwala gas Connection and water connection under Har Ghar Jal, saving the beneficiaries the hassle of running around for these benefits.

• As per the statistics, till August 2022, 2.02 crore houses have been constructed.