Kerala has cleared the way for the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0, with around 30,000 eligible beneficiaries expected to receive housing assistance under the programme.The state Cabinet recently approved the implementation of the scheme in accordance with the eligibility criteria laid down by the Centre. The state government will now enter into an MoU with the Centre, the office of Local Self Government Department minister K M Shaji said in a statement.The agreement is aimed at securing Rs 450 crore in Central assistance for Kerala and the state could lose this assistance if the scheme was not implemented.The funding arrangement under the revised Central guidelines will see the Centre provide Rs 1.50 lakh for every homeless beneficiary, while the state government will contribute Rs 1 lakh. With total assistance fixed at Rs 4 lakh per beneficiary, the balance will have to come from the municipality and the beneficiary.The revised guidelines also stipulate that beneficiaries should bear 25 per cent of the overall project cost.Kerala’s existing PMAY-Urban LIFE scheme follows a different funding pattern for homeless beneficiaries who own land. Under it, each house receives Rs 4 lakh, comprising Rs 1.50 lakh from the Centre, Rs 50,000 from the state and Rs 2 lakh from the municipality.The Cabinet’s approval for the next phase comes as the first phase of the scheme is due to be completed by September 30, 2026, the statement said.
