A Home Still Out Of Reach

Winter is at the doorstep in the Valley. And for hundreds of families in Jammu and Kashmir who are still waiting for assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin, the season brings not just cold but a familiar sense of helplessness. They have been living in makeshift sheds, temporary structures, and dilapidated shelters for years. Officials have come, seen, verified, gone. And come again. Yet the houses remain a dream. This is not a new story. The scheme itself is not new. It has been extended now till 2028-29, with Rs 1.30 lakh per house for hilly areas like J&K. On paper, that sounds like help. But on the ground, some families are still waiting. They say they have been verified repeatedly. They say they have given their details, waited, hoped. Nothing moved. One has to ask — what is the point of verification after verification if no decision follows? If a family’s condition has been checked and found genuine, then why the delay? If they are not eligible, then why not say so clearly and close the case? This endless wait, without any explanation, is cruel. Especially when children and the elderly are involved. Especially when winter is coming. The government itself admitted in the Assembly in September that some deserving households are missing from the Permanent Wait List due to automated scrutiny and validation. That is a quiet admission that the system is not perfect. Then it becomes the duty of the Rural Development Department and district administrations to fix it. Review the pending cases. Do fresh assessments where needed. And most importantly, tell people where they stand. Transparency is not a favour. It is their right. People are not asking for luxury. They are asking for a roof that does not leak. A wall that holds. A home where they can live with some dignity. That is not too much to ask. And after years of waiting, it is the least they deserve. Winter will not wait. Neither should the authorities.