India Extends Housing Benefits to Marginalised Workers Under PMAY
The Ministry of Labour and Employment in India has taken significant steps to improve the welfare of marginalised workers by extending the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to them. This includes migrant workers, construction workers, beedi workers, cine workers, non-coal mine workers, contract labourers, and other unorganised workers.
The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of PMAY’s implementation for an additional five years, from FY 2024-25 to 2028-29, with the goal of providing 2 crore additional houses to eligible beneficiaries. This initiative aims to address the housing needs of economically vulnerable workers.
The Ministry emphasised that these workers are among society’s most disadvantaged, and ensuring their inclusion under PMAY is both a matter of social justice and essential for improving their living conditions.
A new Management Information System (MIS) portal, launched on 21st August 2024, is now fully operational. This portal is designed to facilitate data collection and analysis, including information on fund utilisation and worker coverage under various central and state social security schemes such as insurance, health benefits, and housing programmes.
The Ministry has directed Welfare Commissioners in various states to work closely with local authorities to ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives. Follow-up on the initiative is being conducted through a series of regional meetings organized by the Ministry of Labour and Employment with States & UTs between 29th August and 4th October, 2024.
This initiative is expected to enhance the lives of millions of workers, ensuring they receive the housing and social security benefits they deserve.
Doubts Revealed
PMAY -: PMAY stands for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. It is a government scheme in India that aims to provide affordable housing to the urban poor.
Marginalised Workers -: Marginalised workers are people who often do not have stable jobs or good living conditions. This includes migrant workers who move from place to place for work and construction workers who build buildings and roads.
Union Cabinet -: The Union Cabinet is a group of top leaders in the Indian government, including the Prime Minister, who make important decisions for the country.
2 crore -: 2 crore means 20 million. In India, ‘crore’ is a term used to represent ten million.
Management Information System (MIS) -: A Management Information System (MIS) is a special computer system that helps collect, store, and analyze data to make better decisions.
Ministry of Labour and Employment -: The Ministry of Labour and Employment is a part of the Indian government that looks after the welfare and rights of workers in the country.
