Amit Shah in Pune: Viksit Rashtra Means Every Family Has a Home, Electricity
Amit Shah in Pune: Viksit Rashtra Means Every Family Has a Home, Electricity
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at an event in Pune’s Balewadi, emphasized that a “Viksit Rashtra” (developed nation) means ensuring basic necessities like housing, electricity, and essential services for every citizen. The event marked the distribution of approval letters to 20 lakh beneficiaries and the first installment to 10 lakh beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) Phase 2.
Historic Housing Approvals Under PMAY-G
Highlighting the scale of the initiative, Shah stated that no other state in India has witnessed 20 lakh people receiving housing approvals simultaneously. He added that under PMAY-G, beneficiaries will not only get homes but also solar panels, in-house bathrooms, and gas cylinders, reinforcing the government’s commitment to improving rural living standards.
Shah’s Dig at Rahul Gandhi
During his address, Shah took a swipe at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, recalling his past skepticism about the Jan Dhan Yojana. “When Modiji was providing Jan Dhan accounts, Rahul Baba questioned what would be deposited in them. Today, in a single click, 10 lakh people have received the first installment for their houses,” he remarked.
Political Undertones in Maharashtra
Referring to the Maharashtra assembly elections, Shah asserted that voters had decisively chosen the real Shiv Sena and the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), cementing the Mahayuti alliance’s victory.
Leaders in Attendance
The event was attended by several prominent leaders, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Jaykumar Gore, and state ministers Chandrakant Patil and Madhuri Misal.
PMAY-G: Transforming Rural Housing
The PMAY-G scheme aims to provide financial assistance for housing construction—₹1.20 lakh for plain areas and ₹1.30 lakh for hilly regions, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, North-Eastern states, and areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism. Funding is shared 60:40 between the Union and state governments, while North-Eastern states receive a 90:10 ratio.
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), as of February 2, 2025, a total of 3.79 crore houses have been allocated under PMAY-G, with 3.34 crore sanctioned and 2.69 crore completed. The Union Cabinet has also approved the construction of an additional 2 crore houses from 2024-25 to 2028-29 under the scheme.
