| Abstract: | Housing constitutes one of the fundamental determinants of human well-being and socio-economic development. In rural India, inadequate housing has historically been associated with poverty, social exclusion, and vulnerability to environmental hazards. Recognizing the need for inclusive rural housing, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G) in 2016 with the objective of providing pucca houses with basic amenities to all eligible rural households. Unlike earlier rural housing programmes, PMAY-G incorporates a technology-driven governance framework emphasizing transparency, accountability, efficiency, and citizen-centric service delivery. The scheme employs digital platforms such as AwaasSoft, AwaasApp, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and geo-tagging technologies to streamline implementation and minimize leakages. This paper examines the governance architecture and service delivery mechanisms of PMAY-G in the state of Odisha, which has emerged as one of the leading states in rural housing implementation. The study adopts a qualitative and analytical approach based on secondary data drawn from government reports, policy documents, academic literature, and programme statistics. It analyzes how digital governance tools have transformed beneficiary identification, fund disbursement, monitoring, and grievance redressal. The paper further evaluates the achievements of PMAY-G in improving housing access and strengthening rural welfare outcomes while identifying persistent challenges such as exclusion errors, land constraints, delays in construction, and institutional capacity limitations. The study argues that PMAY-G represents a significant shift from welfare-oriented housing provision toward governance-based service delivery. Odisha’s experience demonstrates that digital technologies can substantially enhance programme effectiveness; however, sustained success depends upon local institutional capacity, social accountability mechanisms, and continuous policy innovation. The findings contribute to broader debates on e-governance, public service delivery, and rural development in India. |
| Keywords: | PMAY-G, Digital Governance, Service Delivery, Rural Housing, Odisha, E-Governance, Public Administration, Rural Development. |
