Minister for Agriculture Production and Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Departments, Javed Ahmad Dar, today termed the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) as a beacon of hope materialising the affordable housing dreams of millions across the country.
The Minister made these remarks during his address after he inaugurated a one-day workshop on an overview of PMAY-G at Panchayat Bhawan, Jammu. The Minister was accompanied by Secretary RDD&PR, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, and other HoDs of the department.
During the workshop, the Minister distributed cheques among PMAY-G beneficiaries and launched a booklet detailing the scheme’s impact and implementation. Ajay More, Joint Director, Ministry of Rural Development, also participated in the event, who also presented an overview of PMAY-G 2.0 through a power point presentation.
In his address, Javed Dar highlighted the transformative role of PMAY-G in uplifting economically weaker sections by providing them with affordable housing in Jammu and Kashmir. He underscored the significance of the scheme, which was renamed and revamped in 2016 to expedite rural housing construction across the country.
“This initiative has brought hope to millions of people across India, including in our UT. While challenges persist due to the unique geographical and social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir, we are committed towards ensuring every eligible individual benefits from this program,” he said.
The Minister emphasised the importance of coordination among political representatives and administrative officers for effective scheme implementation. Addressing the officers, the Minister called for adopting flexible approach while working in close collaboration with legislators for successful implementation of all public welfare schemes.
The Minister also touched upon the challenges of housing in difficult terrains, stressing the need for enhanced resource allocation and meticulous planning. He advocated for transparency in beneficiary selection besides efficient fund utilisation to ensure timely project completion.
The Minister instructed the officials to adopt empathetic approach towards resolving public issues while ensuring seamless public service delivery. He stressed on effective performance and successful implementation of all schemes under Rural Sanitation, SBM- G, NRLM, RGSA, IWMP, Himayat and other different wings of the RDD.
Later, the Minister also interacted with the ACDs and ACPs and instructed them for timely execution and completion of works. Secretary, RD&PR Aijaz Asad, emphasised the transformative impact of PMAY-G in addressing housing challenges in rural and underdeveloped areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Access to proper housing ensures dignity and boosts opportunities in health, education and employment for rural populations,” Asad said. “Such schemes are crucial in reducing urban migration by making rural areas more liveable and empowering communities.”
Highlighting the progress under PMAY-G, the Secretary revealed that over 3.35 lakh houses have been sanctioned in Jammu and Kashmir, with 2.8 lakh houses already completed, achieving an impressive completion rate of 83%.
He commended the department for its record-breaking completion of 67,780 houses in 2023-24 adding that an additional 82,000 houses have been completed as on December 24, 2024. The workshop was attended by Secretary in RD&PR Rachna Sharma, DG Rural Sanitation, Anoo Malhotra, Director RDD Jammu Mumtaz Ali, Mission Director JKRLM, Shubhra Sharma, Director Panchayati Raj, J&K Sham Lal, Director Finance, Umar Khan, COO Himayat, Rajnesh Sharma, CEO IWMP Rajinish Gupta, Joint Director, Planning Kamal Kumar and Assistant Commissioner Development ( ACDs), Assistant Commissioner Panchayat (ACPs) and BDOs of Jammu division.