Five Lakh Homeless in Jammu & Kashmir to Get Permanent Shelter Under PMAY: Who Benefits and How
By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 03 July 2025
A Landmark Promise of Shelter in Jammu & Kashmir
A life of dignity begins with a roof over one’s head. For over five lakh homeless people in Jammu & Kashmir, that fundamental right has long remained elusive. But a historic policy shift by the central government now seeks to change that. In an ambitious rollout under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the Centre has announced that five lakh people across J&K will receive permanent housing, marking a transformative leap toward social security, dignity, and development in the region.
This article breaks down who stands to benefit from the scheme, how the housing verification and allocation process works, and what larger socio-economic shifts this initiative could catalyze across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Numbers Behind the Announcement: Who Are the 5 Lakh Homeless in J&K?
The announcement isn’t just a political headline—it reflects the culmination of detailed groundwork carried out through a comprehensive government-led survey. Here’s what the data reveals:
Key Statistics:
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Total homeless population identified: 5,00,000+
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Rural concentration: Approximately 70% of the homeless are from rural belts.
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Urban spillover: A significant portion lives in informal settlements, slums, or abandoned buildings.
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Marginalized groups within: Includes women-headed families, the elderly, disabled individuals, and families displaced by conflict or climate-induced disasters.
The Root Causes:
The root causes of homelessness in J&K are multifaceted:
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Displacement from militancy: Many families fled their homes during decades of conflict and never received proper rehabilitation.
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Natural disasters: Earthquakes, floods, and landslides have wiped out entire neighborhoods in areas like Bandipora, Gurez, and Uri.
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Economic instability: Unemployment, landlessness, and lack of access to credit keep thousands in poverty traps.
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Policy gaps: Previous housing schemes often failed to reach the remote and inaccessible areas of J&K.
Why This Matters Now:
J&K’s unique topography and history make housing not just a matter of shelter, but of social healing and security. Permanent housing could re-anchor families that have lived in uncertainty for decades.
Who Will Benefit? A Closer Look at the Targeted Groups
The government has clearly outlined three core beneficiary groups under the new scheme. The aim is to ensure equity, inclusion, and dignity for those who have been consistently left out of past welfare efforts.
1. Direct Beneficiaries: The Truly Homeless
These include:
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Families living under tarpaulins or temporary shelters.
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Individuals residing in informal slums near city peripheries.
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Former nomadic or semi-nomadic communities without land or registration.
2. Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG)
As per PMAY guidelines:
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Households with an annual income below ₹3 lakh (EWS) and between ₹3–6 lakh (LIG) are eligible.
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Most families from border villages, tribal belts, and backward districts like Kishtwar, Ramban, and Rajouri fall under this category.
3. Vulnerable Demographics
Special provisions exist for:
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Women-headed households: Empowering widows, single mothers, and abandoned women.
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Senior citizens: Prioritizing those without caretakers or family support.
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Persons with disabilities: Homes to include accessibility features like ramps and wide doorways.
Case Story: The Resilience of Shabeena, a Widow from Anantnag
Shabeena lost her husband during the turmoil of the 1990s. For years, she and her three children lived in a makeshift tin shed in the outskirts of Anantnag. With no land title, she was rejected from previous housing aid. But under the new PMAY-linked initiative, she now qualifies and awaits her allotment. Her story mirrors the silent resilience of thousands.
How the Process Works: Verification, Allotment & Construction
The scheme is being implemented through a three-stage process, ensuring transparency and efficiency:
1. Survey & Identification
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Joint teams of the District Administration, Rural Development Department, and Urban Local Bodies have been deployed.
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Surveys are geo-tagged to prevent duplication.
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A socio-economic and caste census (SECC) 2011 dataset is being cross-referenced.
2. Verification of Beneficiaries
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Applications are matched against Aadhaar, ration card, and property records.
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A social audit mechanism is also in place to resolve grievances and confirm claims.
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Special verification camps are being held in inaccessible regions like Gurez, Karnah, and Zanskar.
3. Allotment & Construction
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Once verified, allotment letters are issued.
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Construction support under PMAY is released in four installments.
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Technical supervision ensures housing is climate-resilient and quake-resistant, particularly important for hilly terrains.
About PMAY: India’s Most Ambitious Housing-for-All Program
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) was launched in 2015 with the vision to provide “Housing for All by 2022”. It operates under two components:
1. PMAY-G (Gramin)
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Focuses on rural households.
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Each house includes basic amenities: toilet, kitchen, drinking water, electricity.
2. PMAY-U (Urban)
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Targets urban poor and slum dwellers.
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Offers credit-linked subsidies for home loans.
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Promotes vertical expansion in cities to optimize land use.
PMAY in J&K so far:
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Total houses sanctioned (2015–2023): Over 3.5 lakh
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Completed till date: Approx. 2.8 lakh
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Pending backlog: To be resolved by this latest announcement
Broader Socio-Economic Impact: From Shelter to Self-Reliance
The housing initiative is more than just infrastructure. It’s a socio-economic catalyst designed to unlock opportunity across multiple verticals.
Rural Development
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Permanent housing leads to the stabilization of communities, enabling the setup of schools, health centers, and Anganwadi units.
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Encourages reverse migration from overcrowded cities.
Empowering Women: Synergy with Lakhpati Didi Yojana
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Under the Lakhpati Didi scheme, over 2 crore women across India are being trained to start micro-enterprises.
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Housing ownership in a woman’s name increases financial inclusion and reduces vulnerability.
👨🌾 Youth & Farmers: Boosting Livelihoods
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With secure housing, youth can focus on skills, education, and employment, not mere survival.
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Farmers gain access to loans and subsidies once they have a permanent address.
Long-Term Vision: Towards a Housing-Secure Jammu & Kashmir
The vision of this project is aligned with:
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United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #11: “Sustainable Cities and Communities”
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India’s Vision 2047: To be a developed nation with inclusive infrastructure
The effort in Jammu & Kashmir is particularly significant given the region’s historical struggles with conflict, displacement, and development backlog.
Challenges & Bottlenecks: A Reality Check
Despite the promise, several hurdles need addressing:
Bureaucratic Delays
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File approvals, land record disputes, and inter-departmental coordination are slowing implementation in some districts.
Remote Area Logistics
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Transporting materials to high-altitude regions like Leh, Doda, and Kupwara remains expensive and slow.
🛑 Land Ownership Conflicts
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Many potential beneficiaries lack land titles or reside on disputed terrain.
Solutions:
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Land pooling models, pre-fab housing units, and technology-driven monitoring are being introduced.
Community Voices: What Locals Are Saying
“Finally, my children won’t have to study under plastic sheets.” – Tariq Ahmad, Srinagar resident
“We hope this is not another promise left on paper. But if delivered, it will change our lives.” – Shaista Begum, Baramulla
“A house is more than bricks; it’s where life begins.” – Mohammed Yaseen, Rajouri teacher
Bottom-Line: A Home, A Hope, A Future
For too long, permanent shelter in J&K has remained a dream deferred for lakhs of citizens. With this bold move, the government is finally acknowledging that shelter is not a luxury, but a right. If implemented with integrity, speed, and sensitivity, this initiative could go down as one of the most humane and impactful social welfare policies in the region’s post-independence history.
The journey from homeless to housed is not just about changing addresses—it’s about restoring dignity, ensuring equity, and building hope for a generation that has lived too long on the margins.
