Mumbai, Aug. 3 -- Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy met the Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in New Delhi to seek allocation of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin. He briefed the Union minister on the state Indiramma housing scheme being implemented for the benefit of poor households and urged expeditious action on pending allocations. The meeting was described as focused on addressing long-standing gaps in rural housing delivery across the state.

The state government informed the Union ministry that a survey using the Awaas+ app developed by the Ministry of Rural Development had identified 1.16 million (1.16 mn) eligible rural families for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin assistance. Revanth sought allocation of 1,156,915 houses to Telangana at the earliest to meet that identified need. He said demand for housing had increased because the previous administration had failed to utilise the central scheme, leaving many without homes over the past decade. The request included an appeal to prioritise cleared beneficiaries so implementation could proceed without further administrative delay.

In view of the El Nino impact, the chief minister requested additional central support and asked the ministry to deploy central assessment teams to gauge drought-like conditions across affected districts. He argued that early assessment and assistance would help mitigate livelihood losses and support targeted interventions in vulnerable areas. The state sought a coordinated response that combined housing allocation with measures to sustain rural incomes.

Revanth proposed inclusion of supplementary activities under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajivika Mission-Rural to promote crop diversification and generate work for marginal communities. The additional works sought included construction of vegetable trellis structures, development of fodder plots, mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing sheds, kitchen gardens and bamboo plantations. He said these measures would benefit scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, small and marginal farmers and agricultural labourers facing lack of work due to deficient rainfall. He also urged incorporation of water-retention trenches on hill slopes, moisture-conservation trenches for plantations and orchards, and restoration of lands damaged by floods and sand casting.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.