Prime Minister’s Affordable Housing Yojana (PMAY) Gains Momentum as Assam Chief Minister Unveils Geotagging Initiative for Eligible Beneficiaries

Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, made a significant announcement on Thursday, March 13, as he revealed plans to revamp the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) benefit distribution. In a press meet, Sarma unveiled a novel approach to ensure that no eligible beneficiaries are left behind: geotagging. This innovative technique will enable the state’s 30 lakh PMAY beneficiaries to receive benefits through a more efficient and transparent process.

The Chief Minister disclosed that a total of 3.80 lakh beneficiaries are set to receive benefits from the PMAY on March 19, followed by another 3.80 lakh in later months. This significant undertaking is a testament to the government’s commitment to social welfare and housing initiatives. Sarma emphasized the importance of inclusivity, stating, “We want to ensure that no eligible beneficiary is excluded from receiving the benefits under the PMAY.”

A key aspect of this revamped process is the involvement of local women and self-help groups in conducting the geotagging process. This unconventional approach is a departure from traditional practices, where government officials from the Panchayat & Rural Development (P&RD) department would typically handle the process. Sarma explained, “To keep the process fair and transparent, we have decided that instead of local officials, women from nearby villages will carry out the geotagging process.”

This innovative approach is expected to increase the accuracy and efficiency of the process, as it will be scrutinized by the local community. However, for those who may be unintentionally left out, Sarma reassured that they can either perform self-geotagging or seek assistance from others. “If any eligible beneficiary misses out in the geotagging process, they can carry out self-geotagging or seek assistance from others,” he added.

The Chief Minister also emphasized the importance of community participation, stating that a gram sabha will be convened to ratify the final list of beneficiaries. Additionally, block and district levels’ committees, comprising the guardian Minister, will be formed to review the list and forwarded to the central government.

This bold experiment is a first for the country, as the government officials will no longer be directly involved in the geotagging process. Instead, they will focus on reviewing the lists. This paradigm shift is a testament to the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and community engagement. With this initiative, the Assam government is poised to set a new benchmark for social welfare programs across the country.

Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/assam-chief-minister-announces-geotagging-for-pmay-beneficiaries-1571101
Category : Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2025-03-13 18:40:00