History Of Rural Housing Programme In India

History Of Rural Housing Programme In India

• Public housing programme in the country started with the rehabilitation of refugees immediately after independence. Till the year 1960, nearly 5 lakh families were provided houses in different parts of India.
• In 1957, as a part of the Community Development Movement (CDM) a Village Housing Programme (VHP) was introduced providing loans to individuals and cooperatives, of upto Rs.5,000/— per unit. Only 67,000 houses could be constructed in this scheme till the end of the 5th Five Year Plan (1974-1979). Another scheme introduced in the 4th Five Year Plan (1969—1974), called the House Sites-cum-construction Assistance Scheme (HSCAS), was also transferred to the State Sector from 1974-75.
• Specific focus on rural housing in India, has its origin in the wage employment programmes of National Rural Employment Programme (NREP —1980), and Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP-1983), by allowing construction of houses under these programmes for SCs/STs and freed bonded labourers. A full-fledged rural housing program Indira AwaasYojana (IAY) was later launched in June, 1985 as a sub—scheme of RLEGP, with earmarking of funds for the construction of houses for SCs/STs and freed bonded labourers. When Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (J RY) was launched in April, 1989, 6% of the funds were allocated to housing for SCs/STs and freed bonded labourers. In 1993-94, the coverage was extended to Non—SC/ ST families, by increasing the earmarked fund for housing under JRY to 10%. The additional 4% was to be used for non-SC/ ST category of beneficiaries.
• Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) was made an independent programme with effect from 15t January, 1996 aimed at addressing housing needs of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. After more than 30 years of its implementation, although IAY addressed the rural housing shortage considerably, however, in view of the limited scope of coverage (BPL) under the programme there still are considerate gaps in rural housing.
• Government has committed to provide "Housing for All" by 2022. To fulfill the Government's commitment and to address rural housing gaps, IAY has been re-structured into Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) w.e.f. 1st April, 2016.

Source : http://rural.nic.in/netrural/rural/index.aspx