GUWAHATI: The Assam government will engage women from self-help groups (SHGs) for geo-tagging beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G). This was announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa at a press conference held on Thursday, March 13.
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This development will see Assam becoming the first state in India to involve ‘Jeevika Sakhis’ in geo-tagging kutcha houses to ensure rightful allocation of homes. The process will initially be conducted by women from neighbouring villages instead of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department.
Beneficiaries will also have the option to self-geo-tag their homes by submitting a photograph and address for verification. The data will be uploaded on the Anwesha portal for screening.
The eligibility criteria for PMAY-G include homeless individuals and households living in kutcha houses with up to two rooms. Those residing in homes with more than two rooms will be excluded. In tea garden areas, all eligible beneficiaries will receive houses within the estates, regardless of their employment status with the tea garden authorities.
Jeevika Sakhis will visit households from March 17 to identify and verify potential beneficiaries, collect details through a questionnaire, and upload the data along with photographs. Following this, a gram sabha will be held where the gaon panchayat secretary will present the initial list of beneficiaries.
After public review, the list will be approved at the legislative assembly constituency and district levels before final uploading on the AWAS app.
Relatedly, the chief minister also announced that under the Mahila Udyamita Scheme, 23,000 women in SHGs will receive ₹10,000 each in April as part of a larger initiative to provide ₹85,000 in financial support over three years.
