‘Rs 1.2 Lakh not enough’: Parliamentary Panel seeks higher aid under rural housing scheme as costs soar

“The per unit assistance under PMAY-G for plain areas is `1.2 lakh and for hilly areas is `1.3 lakh which has remained static for a considerable period of time. With rising inflation having a detrimental effect on the cost factor associated with the raw material, transportation cost, labours cost etc, constructing a new house of the requisite area under PMAY-G for the poor and needy beneficiary with such assistance amount seems to be an arduous task,” the report said.

“…there are instances wherein houses remain incomplete for want of finance and thereby keeping the target lagging… the committee finds it utmost necessary that a review of per-unit assistance be done on priority basis, particularly when the scheme has been extended to March, 2029,” it said. “Therefore, the committee recommends the DoRD to revise the per unit assistance under PMAY-G through a suitable hike in the assistance component,” it said.

Monthly pension

The committee also recommended an increase in monthly pension under NSAP. The pension is provided to over 3 crore beneficiaries covered under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).

“The amount of assistance aimed for old aged, widows, disabled persons and bereaved families on death of primary breadwinner belonging to BPL households, under the sub-schemes of NSAP, i.e. IGNDAPS, IGNWPS and IGNDPS ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month, has been a cause of concern to the Committee for a long period of time. The Committee notes this amount abysmally low when the cost of living has increased during the last couple of years,” it said.

“The Committee feels there is an urgent requirement for the upward revision of social assistance under NSAP.,” it said.

The panel also recommended increasing employment guarantee from the existing 100 days to 150 days by “moving an amendment in the Act in order to make it applicable for the entire country, so that the demand of needy beneficiaries may not hinge upon the will of the state governments”.