Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced the allocation of 3.80 lakh new houses for the state under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The first installment for the construction of these houses will be released on March 19 during a central event in Palashbari. The PMAY scheme has already benefited 22 lakh families across Assam. However, acknowledging that many eligible households are yet to be included, the state government has requested the Centre to conduct another round of geo-tagging to ensure no deserving family is left out.
To improve accuracy and efficiency in data collection, the Assam government has introduced a revamped geo-tagging system. Under this new model, ‘Jeevika Sakhis’—women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs)—will be responsible for the geo-tagging process. To ensure localized and accurate data collection, only ‘Jeevika Sakhis’ from the nearest villages will be involved. Additionally, families will be given the option to self-geo-tag their houses. The verification process will involve multiple levels of scrutiny. The Panchayat & Rural Development Department will first verify the geo-tagged data before forwarding it to the Gram Sabha and the Block-Level Committee for approval. At the district level, a committee led by the Guardian Minister will review and finalize the list before submitting it to the Government of India.
During a press briefing, Panchayat & Rural Development Department Principal Secretary Jan Ekka provided insights into digital initiatives like the ‘Awas Portal’ and ‘Awas Plus,’ aimed at streamlining housing data management. The geo-tagging exercise is scheduled to take place from March 17 to March 31, with public awareness campaigns being launched to ensure maximum participation.