HousingScheme – The Bihar government has formally requested the Union government to release Rs 3,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, citing disruptions in payments to thousands of beneficiaries awaiting support for home construction.

State Flags Delay in Fund Transfer

During Question Hour in the Assembly, Rural Development Minister Sharvan Kumar informed legislators that a significant portion of funds earmarked for the rural housing programme remains unutilized due to procedural challenges. He noted that although Rs 91 crore was released by the Centre in January, the amount had to be distributed without routing it through a Single Nodal Agency account.

According to the minister, the state has encountered difficulties in operationalising the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) system, which is now mandatory for disbursing funds under centrally sponsored schemes. As a result, a much larger tranche of Rs 3,000 crore remains pending with the Centre.

“We have requested the immediate release of the remaining amount so it can be passed on to eligible beneficiaries,” Kumar said in the House.

SNA System at the Centre of the Issue

The SNA mechanism was introduced in 2021 to streamline the release, tracking and monitoring of central funds. Under the current framework, allocations under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin are transferred through the SNA account and routed digitally to beneficiaries via the PFMS-AwaasSoft platform.

The Centre has instructed states to open and operate nodal accounts to ensure transparency and real-time tracking of expenditure. However, Bihar has not yet completed the required process, leading to repeated interruptions in the fund flow.

Kumar acknowledged that the state government was unable to comply with the directive within the stipulated timeframe. He informed the Assembly that he had met the Union Rural Development Minister to seek temporary relief from the SNA requirement until January 31. Although funds were released following that meeting, the transfer process again stalled due to the absence of the nodal account.

The state has now urged the Centre to extend the deadline for compliance until March 31, allowing time to regularise the account and resume smooth disbursal.

Targets and Construction Progress

Under the current allocation cycle, the Centre has set a target of constructing more than 12.19 lakh houses in Bihar during the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. State data presented in the Assembly shows that 2.96 lakh houses have been completed so far, while construction is ongoing for approximately 9.23 lakh units.

Officials indicated that the pace of work could slow further if fresh funds are not released promptly. Many beneficiaries depend on instalment-based payments to continue construction.

Thousands Await Instalments

The data shared by the Rural Development Department reveals that 72,492 eligible beneficiaries are yet to receive their first instalment under the scheme. In total, over 11.36 lakh beneficiaries have received the initial instalment. However, only 7.47 lakh of them have so far been paid the second instalment, which is essential for completing structural work.

The minister stressed that timely financial support is critical to prevent unfinished homes from remaining incomplete, particularly as construction costs continue to fluctuate. Without adequate funding, families from economically weaker sections could face prolonged delays in securing permanent housing.

Appeal for Urgent Resolution

The Bihar government has reiterated that it remains committed to implementing the housing scheme efficiently but requires the Centre’s cooperation to resolve procedural hurdles. Kumar told lawmakers that discussions are ongoing with Union authorities to ensure that funds are released without further delay.

With thousands of rural households awaiting assistance and construction activity at stake, the resolution of the SNA account issue has become central to the state’s housing agenda.