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Covid-19 pandemic-induced nationwide lockdown has slowed the pace of construction of rural houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), as only 57.4% of the targeted houses have been built till date. Minister of state for rural development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti told the media that the delays are also due to cases of the beneficiaries unwillingness, beneficiaries death without legal heir, migration, delay in land allotment to landless beneficiaries by the states or union territories (UTs), and general, panchayat or assembly elections. According to the rural development ministry data, out of the 2.63 crore allocated target till FY 21-22, only 1.51 crore houses have been built including 33.9 lakh houses built during 2020-21. In 2016, the government said it would assist eligible rural households with the construction of 2.95 crore pucca houses with basic facilities to achieve housing for all objectives. According to the minister, the states and union territories have been urged to speed up the completion of houses approved under PMAY-G. Other steps taken involve allocation of targets to the states and UTs timely under PMAY-G, provision of sufficient funds, and promotion of eco-friendly and innovative technologies for the construction of the house, the minister said. The ministry follows up with the states to ensure the provision of land to landless beneficiaries in rural regions and ensure quick resolution of technical problems faced by the state, the minister said. Under PMAY-G, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has issued an advisory to all states and UTs to resume activities with due Covid-19 protocol and undertakes a regular evaluation of progress to assure completion of targeted houses timely, said the ministry. Image Source Also read: PMAY-Urban: Around 3.88 lakh low-cost houses built in Andhra Pradesh Also read: PMAY-Urban: Govt hands over more than 37 lakh homes in two years