BENGALURU: Karnataka, a state that has witnessed tremendous development over the last seven decades, still grapples with the severe issue of homelessness. According to the state’s own data, a staggering 37.48 lakh people in the state remain without homes, despite various state and central government initiatives over the years. As poverty eradication remains a top priority, housing remains one of the state’s most pressing challenges.
Housing Schemes and Lack of Progress
In response to growing demand for affordable housing, successive governments have implemented a range of housing schemes to provide homes for people experiencing homelessness. Some of the most notable initiatives include the Basava Housing Scheme, the Dr BR Ambedkar Urban and Rural Housing Scheme, the Devaraja Urs Housing Scheme, and the Vajpayee Urban Housing Scheme. These schemes are designed to provide shelter for low-income families, including those who have lost their homes to natural disasters such as floods. A multi-storey housing scheme for the homeless in Bengaluru has also been implemented, along with the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for both urban and rural areas.
Despite these programs, the situation has not improved. According to a survey conducted by the state government under the direction of the Centre, out of the 37.48 lakh homeless people, 17.31 lakh families do not even have their own land to build a house, while 20.17 lakh families have taken loans to purchase plots but have not been able to afford the construction of a house. In the fiscal year 2024-25, the state government announced plans to construct 7.38 lakh homes under various schemes. However, only 3.27 lakh homes have been approved, with approval for the remaining 4.11 lakh homes still pending. Even as the end of the 2025-26 financial year nears, only 9,839 homes have been completed, with 46,540 homes currently under construction. Alarmingly, the construction of 2.70 lakh homes has not even begun.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Progress
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the target for 2024-25 was set to construct 2.74 lakh houses. However, only 4,443 houses have been completed to date. The slow progress of housing construction under both state and central schemes highlights a critical issue: a severe shortage of funds and delays in government disbursements.
Reasons for Delayed Housing Construction
Several factors have been identified as contributing to the delay in housing construction under the state’s shelter schemes. One key factor is the state government’s inadequate contribution. For each house, the government has set a contribution limit of Rs 1.20 lakh. Additionally, Rs 20,000 is allocated under the employment guarantee scheme. However, the government’s contribution is only Rs 1.40 lakh in rural areas, with the remaining amount to be borne by the beneficiaries. The delay in releasing funds has further compounded the issue. “The money has not been released for the last four months, and even the beneficiaries’ share is not being received on time,” says Niranjan, secretary of the Housing Scheme Struggle Committee.
Further complicating the issue are delays in beneficiary selection, the lack of required site clearance documents, and delays in loan sanctions. “The construction of houses is not going on as expected due to these issues. The government should pay the full amount and ensure that houses are built for homeless families below the poverty line,” states Kadashettihalli Satish, president of the Karnataka State Gram Panchayat Members’ Federation.
One of the key demands from local leaders is that beneficiary selection be conducted at the grassroots level, free from political pressure. Kadashettihalli Satish stresses that the process must be handed over to the respective village and ward assemblies, in accordance with the rules. “The interference of MLAs and officials should be prevented so that the real beneficiaries can get a roof over their heads,” he said.
