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Housing for All

Context: 

Recently, the Prime Minister’s announcement introduces a scheme to aid urban poor in constructing houses within cities.

About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY):

  • The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is a flagship housing scheme initiated by the Government of India for the Urban poor. 
  • Launched in June 2015, being implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
  • The scheme aims to provide affordable and quality housing for all by the year 2022. 
  • The primary focus is on addressing the housing needs of economically weaker sections (EWS), low-income groups (LIG), and middle-income groups (MIG).
  • The annual income cap is up to Rs 3 lakh for EWS, Rs 3-6 lakh for LIG and Rs 6 + -18 lakhs for MIG.

Government’s Altered Approach:

  • Recent standpoint contrasts with previous position of no new housing scheme.
  • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) extension till December 2024 prioritized swift completion of approved housing projects.
  • An assessment of PMAY-U’s progress could be the catalyst for this shift in stance.

Concerns with the Previous Urban Housing Scheme:

  • Incomplete Housing Projects: Despite the extension of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), a substantial number of sanctioned houses remained incomplete.
    • Only 76.25 lakh houses out of 1.19 crore sanctioned were completed over an 8-year span.
  • Financial Burden on Beneficiaries: The funding structure required beneficiaries to contribute a significant portion of the investment, nearly 60%.
    • Central assistance accounted for 24.4% while States and urban local bodies contributed 16%.
    • Low-income beneficiaries found it challenging to afford their share, impacting the scheme’s effectiveness.
  • Lack of Proof for Financial Institutions: Efforts by some State governments to assist beneficiaries in obtaining bank loans were hindered.
    • Financial institutions hesitated due to inadequate proof of sustained income, impeding access to loans.

The parliamentary committee’s recommendations:

  • Implementation Flexibility: Propose the abandonment of the uniform and rigid model of assistance employed in the PMAY-U initiative.
    • Advocate for the adoption of an adaptable framework for providing assistance, contingent upon factors such as geographical topography and localized conditions.
  • Quality Assurance and Unoccupancy Investigation: Advocate for a comprehensive inquiry into the underlying causes behind the subpar quality of constructed dwellings.
    • Urge an extensive examination into the reasons contributing to the prevalence of unoccupied houses.
  • Addressing Diverse Factors: Acknowledges the significance of factors such as high land costs, floor space index limitations, and multi-agency certifications.
    • Recognizes their impact on the viability of urban housing initiatives.
  • Centralized Collaborative Discussions: Calls for organized discussions led by the central government involving pertinent stakeholders.
    • Involvement of State governments, local bodies, urban planning entities, professionals, financial institutions, and activists is essential.
  • Drafting a Comprehensive Scheme: Emphasizes the importance of formulating a robust and fool-proof housing scheme.
    • Aims to transcend the realm of rhetoric and transform “housing for all” into a tangible reality for the future.

News Source: The Hindu

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Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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