Patna: Bihar’s Rural Development Department has prepared a draft list of 10,490,743 potential beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
The housing software-generated list was forwarded to district-level login after the deletion module process was completed on September 11. Officials said about 40% of the names could eventually be removed after verification.
The draft list will now be placed before the respective Gram Sabhas. The approved lists must be returned to the block offices by September 30.
Special Gram Sabha Planned
The state is preparing to hold special Gram Sabha meetings on September 27, observed as Panchayat Vikas Diwas, to consider and approve the beneficiary lists.
If a Gram Sabha is not convened within the prescribed period, the concerned list will be treated as approved. Action under the Panchayati Raj Act may also be taken against Panchayat Secretaries who fail to organise the meeting on time.
Eligibility Verification
According to Rural Development Department officials, 2,044,427 villagers have self-claimed eligibility, while 8,446,316 were identified as eligible through departmental surveyors.
Officials expect around 40% of the names to be excluded following verification against the scheme’s eligibility conditions.
Families owning a house with permanent walls or a permanent roof, or a house with more than two rooms, will not qualify. Ownership of motorised three- or four-wheelers and mechanised agricultural equipment is also among the exclusion criteria.
Income, Tax And Land Criteria
Families with a monthly income above Rs 15,000 will be excluded. The same applies where any family member pays income tax or professional tax.
Families with a Kisan Credit Card limit of Rs 50,000 or more, or with a government employee among their members, will also be considered ineligible.
The landholding criteria exclude families owning more than 2.5 acres of irrigated land or more than five acres of unirrigated land.
Priority For Vulnerable Families
Priority in the waiting list will be given to vulnerable households, including families with differently abled members, female-headed households without an adult male member and homeless families.
The priority categories also include people dependent on begging, manual scavengers, bonded labourers, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and families affected by serious illnesses.
District-Level Appeals
A three-member appellate committee will be constituted in every district to consider grievances and objections related to the beneficiary list.
The committee is targeted to be formed by September 15. It will be headed by the District Magistrate or their nominee and include a DM-nominated official and a distinguished non-governmental member.
Final List By October 31
After Gram Sabha approval, the appellate committees will examine grievances and objections before the final priority list is prepared.
The final list is scheduled to be approved by October 31. Rural Development Department Additional Chief Secretary H.R. Srinivasa has issued instructions to District Magistrates and Deputy Development Commissioners regarding the process.
The finalized list will be displayed on Gram Panchayat notice boards, public spaces and Panchayat walls. It will also be made available through the official PMAY-G website.
