The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) initiative in Pulwama district is gaining momentum, with authorities reporting significant progress in providing housing assistance to the economically weaker sections.
Dr Peerzada Farhat, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Pulwama, has highlighted the remarkable strides made in implementing the PMAY housing scheme for the year 2023-2024.
The authorities had set a target of 1547 houses under PMAY in Pulwama for the year 2023-24.
Dr. Farhat revealed that out of the targeted households, 1,526 families have already received the first installment, while 1,081 families have received the second installment.
“Around 436 beneficiaries have received all three installments, amounting to a disbursal of ₹15,63,80,000 among beneficiaries in Pulwama district,” he said.
Under PMAY, eligible families receive financial assistance totaling ₹1,30,000 in three installments.
Authorities also underscored the pivotal role of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in covering labour charges, thereby facilitating the smooth progress of construction activities.
Buoyed by the progress, authorities are optimistic about achieving a 90% completion rate by the end of March, signalling significant steps towards addressing the housing needs of the underprivileged in Pulwama.
The authorities revealed that during the ongoing year, Pulwama has seen the completion of 686 houses under the PMAY scheme, with several others at various stages of construction, indicating sustained efforts to fullfill housing aspirations.
Mushtaq Ahmad Ganaie, a resident of Koil village in Pulwama and a manual labourer living below the poverty line, shared his gratitude for PMAY assistance, which enabled him to construct a new single-story house. Expressing hope, he called upon the Prime Minister of India to announce similar initiatives during his visit to Srinagar, benefiting the poor and underprivileged sections of Jammu and Kashmir.
