GUWAHATI : Assam has issued fresh momentum to its rural housing programme with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma rolling out a large-scale distribution drive for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) approvals.

A total of 3,25,234 families across the state received approval letters on Monday, along with the release of the first instalment to begin house construction.

Launching the initiative at a public event in Boko, Sarma said the drive marks a significant push toward housing saturation in rural Assam.

“Across the state, more than three lakh beneficiaries will receive their approval letters today. The first instalment of funds is also being disbursed,” he announced.

The Chief Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Assam on May 19, 2022, as a key milestone in the state’s progress under PMAY-G. Sarma recalled that following the Prime Minister’s trip, the government distributed five lakh houses, and another two lakh approvals were issued earlier this year.

“With today’s distribution, we have cleared the entire backlog under PMAY-G,” he said, noting that all pending instalments under the house-warming programme have now been settled.

Sarma also highlighted the government’s expansion of rural housing in 2025, pointing to a major distribution held on March 19 in Guwahati, when lakhs of beneficiaries were handed approval letters.

He further credited Prime Minister Modi’s welfare schemes – including PM-Kisan and the expanded Arunodoi programme providing ?1,000 a month – for improving quality of life in the state.

“These schemes are transforming rural households,” he said. With the latest rollout, the government expects to fast-track construction and move closer to ensuring that every eligible family in rural Assam has access to a permanent home.