PM AWAS YOJANA
1. Context
Uttar Pradesh has got an additional target of 1,44,220 houses to be constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin in the current fiscal, taking the overall target of the houses allocated to the state under the Awas Plus List to 21,68,674. The construction work is to be finished by March 2024. The Union Rural Development Minister recently sent a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Rural Development Department, informing about the allocation of the additional target.
2. PM Awas Yojana
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is a flagship housing scheme launched by the Government of India with the aim of providing affordable housing to the urban and rural poor.
- It was announced on June 25, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of his vision of "Housing for All" by the year 2022.
- The scheme is designed to address the housing shortage in the country and improve the living conditions of the economically weaker sections (EWS), low-income groups (LIG), and middle-income groups (MIG).
3. Key Objectives of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
- Affordable Housing: PMAY focuses on providing affordable housing units with basic amenities at an affordable cost to eligible beneficiaries.
- Inclusivity: The scheme aims to include all sections of society, especially those who are economically disadvantaged and marginalized, in the process of nation-building.
- Empowerment: By providing housing to beneficiaries, the scheme aims to enhance their quality of life, promote health and sanitation, and empower them economically and socially.
- Urban and Rural Coverage: PMAY aims to cover both urban and rural areas, recognizing the need for housing in both sectors.
- Women Empowerment: The scheme prioritizes the allocation of housing units in the name of the female head of the household, which helps in women's empowerment and ensures greater financial security.
4. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is implemented in three major components:
- Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS): Under this component, eligible beneficiaries from the EWS, LIG, and MIG sections can avail of interest subsidies on home loans. The amount of subsidy depends on the income category, and it helps reduce the effective interest rate on the home loan, making it more affordable for the beneficiaries.
- Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP): This component targets the development of affordable housing projects in partnership with various public and private agencies. The government provides financial assistance to the partnering agencies to construct these houses.
- Beneficiary-led Construction (BLC): This component empowers the eligible beneficiaries to construct or enhance their houses on their own with the help of financial assistance provided by the government.
5. Aim of the scheme
- To provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural families, who are homeless or living in kutcha or dilapidated houses by the end of March 2022.
- To help rural people Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in the construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of a full grant.
- Beneficiaries: People belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded laborers and non-SC/ST categories, widows or next-of-kin of defense personnel killed in action, ex-servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces, disabled persons, and minorities.
- Selection of Beneficiaries: Through a three-stage validation - Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, Gram Sabha, and geo-tagging.
- Cost Sharing: The cost of unit assistance is shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio of 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states.
6. Performance of the Scheme:
- Only 55% of the construction target has been completed.
- Of the 2.28 crore houses to be built for the rural poor, less than 1.27 crore had been built by January 2021.
- Money has been sanctioned to almost 85% of beneficiaries.
- This scheme has helped in employment generation. Many states provided employment to their migrant laborers during the lockdown.
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For Prelims: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Economically weaker sections (EWS), low-income groups (LIG), middle-income groups (MIG), Below Poverty Line (BPL), Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), and Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC).
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Previous year Question1. Time span of 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana' is (UPPSC Civil Service 2016)
A. 2014 - 2021
B. 2014 - 2024
C. 2015 - 2022
D. 2015 - 2025
Answer: C
2. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)-PMAY (U)’s mission is to achieve the goal of Housing for All in urban areas by: (SSC CHSL 2020)
A. 2022
B. 2023
C. 2021
D. 2020
Answer: A
3. Which of the following statement(s) regarding the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) is/are true? (RBI Grade B 28 May 2022)
(i) The Government has approved the project for the construction of over 60,000 houses under the scheme in the next 5 years.
(ii) These 60,000 houses will be constructed across Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.
(iii) The total number of sanctioned houses under the scheme stands at 114.07 lahks.
A. Only (ii)
B. Both (i) and (ii)
C. Both (i) and (iii)
D. Both (ii) and (iii)
E. All (i), (ii) and (iii)
Answer: E
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Source: The Indian Express
