Odisha revises eligibility criteria for PMAY-Gramin housing scheme

Bhubaneswar, Jan 25: The Odisha government has updated the exclusion criteria for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), making the scheme more inclusive for rural beneficiaries.

Under the revised guidelines, ownership of two-wheelers or fishing boats will no longer disqualify applicants from availing houses under the scheme. Additionally, the monthly income limit for eligibility has been increased from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per family member.

Changes have also been made regarding land ownership criteria. Previously, families owning 2.5 acres or more of land with irrigation equipment were excluded. Now, the guidelines exclude families owning 2.5 acres or more of land regardless of irrigation facilities. For unirrigated land, the exclusion criterion has been adjusted to those owning 5 acres or more used for two or more crop seasons.

Other notable changes include the removal of refrigerator and landline phone ownership from the exclusion list. However, people paying income tax or professional tax, those owning motorized three or four-wheelers, and families with Kisan Credit Cards with a credit limit of ₹50,000 or above remain ineligible. Households with any member employed by the government or operating registered non-agricultural enterprises are also excluded.

Launched in 2016, PMAY-G aims to provide housing to the economically weaker sections of society in rural areas. These revisions by the Odisha government are expected to broaden the scheme’s reach and benefit more deserving families across the state.