The Indira Awaas Yojana is a public housing scheme that was introduced by the government in 1985, as a sub-scheme of the Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP). This programme aimed to construct houses for free bonded laborers and individuals falling under the SC/ ST category. By 1994, the scheme also included non- SC/ST individuals to benefit from this scheme.
Benefits of Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)
The purpose of this program is to:
- Provide support during construction of houses in rural areas
- Supporting the construction of houses with adequate provisions including workplaces within the house
- Designing the houses based on the requirements of the dweller
- Promoting the use of technology and material that is affordable, conducive for generating employment, adaptable, environment-friendly, sustainable and easily manageable.
- Identifying and using local material and technology to construct a house that will last for a minimum duration of 30 years at least.
- The scheme extends its assistance to households headed by women (matriarchal households), SC/ST individuals, people with handicaps, marginalized sections of society, etc. to construct houses.
- Empowering and encouraging Panchayats to take a lead role at the village level to plan and implement this housing programme.
Features of Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)
Ownership of Houses
The house that is provided under the Indira Awaas Yojana will be under the joint ownership of the husband and wife, except in the case of an unmarried individual, widower or divorced individual. Sometimes, the State may also decide to give ownership of the house to the woman in the household only. If the house is allotted to a family based on the quota of persons with disabilities or handicaps, then the ownership of the house will be in the name of that particular individual only.
Construction of the House
The construction of the house should be carried out by the beneficiary. Contractors or any external agency should not be involved in the construction of the house. If a contractor has been assigned then the State Government will take back the funding used on the same. Technical assistance can be offered by government agencies or departments. If support services are required then beneficiaries can take the help of Youth Clubs, Charitable Organizations, NGOs etc. for assistance in monitoring and construction.
Design and Construction Standards
Eco-friendly housing techniques are promoted by the government including the use of local materials and construction techniques. The aim of the program is to reduce the negative impact on the environment while improving the standard of living of the rural community. The guidelines stipulate that the house that is constructed should have ample space for housing a family as well as barrier-free designs for houses built for individuals with handicaps.
The release of Funds in Installments
- First installment is provided on the Awaas Divas along with the sanction order. This will amount up to 25% of the unit cost.
- The second installment will be provided upon reaching the level of the lintel. This installment will amount up to 60% of the cost of the house.
- The third installment is provided to the beneficiary once the house has a bathroom/latrine and he/she has started staying in the house. The installment will amount up to 15% of the cost of the house.
Construction Time Limit
The time limit placed on the completion of housing construction are as follows:
First Stage: Lintel level Construction
9 months from the date of receipt of the 1st installment.
Second Stage: Completion
9 months from the date of receipt of the 2nd installment.
Special Projects Undertaken by the Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)
The Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) provides reserve funds availed from the Central government for Special Projects in the States/Union Territories for purposes such as:
- Rehabilitation of rural families that are below the poverty line, if they are affected by law and order issues or violent outbreaks
- Rehabilitation of rural families that are below the poverty line, who are negatively affected by natural calamities such as storms, floods, etc.
- Providing settlement for liberated manual scavengers and freed bonded laborers.
- Providing settlement for vulnerable tribal societies.
- Rehabilitation of people who are affected by occupational diseases from Asbestos, Silicosis, pesticides, etc. or individuals who are affected by epidemic diseases such as “Kala-azar”.
- Settlement of families who are included under “The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act, 2006”. They are commonly called the FRA beneficiaries.
- Settlement of families who are forced to relocate from districts along the international border.
- Demonstration of new technology, with a special focus on affordable and eco-friendly technologies.
Funding and Allocation of Funds
This scheme is financed by the Central and the State Government on a price sharing basis. The ratio of price sharing among the two authorities is 75:25 percent, with an exclusion of projects in states that are a part of the North-East and Union Territories. The Central Government will take care of funding 90% of the project cost for finance for North-East states and the full price of financing for Union Territories. The Central Government of India and the State Governments share 50:50 percent cost of procuring the house sites.
- Sixty percent of the funds are allocated to SC/ST category in the national level. The proportion in which it will be divided among the SC and ST will be determined by the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Fifteen percent of the finance set apart is offered to the minority sections of society.
- Three percent of the funding is offered to individuals with disabilities who live in rural areas and fall below the poverty line.
If people do not fall under the category of beneficiaries listed by the Ministry in a particular district the Collector or the CEO of the Zilla Parishad must certify the same and make necessary changes in the online software “Awaas Soft”.
The allocation of funds will be made as follows:
- Ninety-Five percent of the funds allocated under this program will be used for the purchase of items for new houses, buying housing sites, upgradation of houses and also for administrative expenses.
- Five percent of the funding that remains, will be used for the special projects undertaken by the Indira Awaas Yojana.
The Ministry of Rural Development should allocate the funds based on the following criteria:
- 75% weightage is to be given to housing shortage in rural regions and 25% weightage is to be given to the individuals who are below the poverty line.
- Up to twenty percent of a district’s funds allocated can be used to upgrade dilapidated/kutcha houses for the families that are below poverty line, as determined by the State concerned.
