look news india
Chhattisgarh government has taken a big decision to fulfill the dream of poor families living in slums and kutcha houses in urban areas of having a permanent house. The state government has relaxed the eligibility rules of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and increased the cut-off date for proving validity of residence from 31 August 2015 to 31 August 2024. This policy amendment will benefit thousands of low income group (EWS) families living in cities for the last several years, who were earlier left out of the eligibility for pucca houses due to the cut-off limit.
This step has been taken in view of the increasing urban population, continuous migration and increasing demand for affordable housing. This relief is being provided under the government’s ‘Affordable Housing in Partnership’ (AHP) model, through which the needy people living for a long time in various municipal corporations and municipalities of the state will be able to directly get legal and permanent ownership rights.
The financial structure under this scheme has been designed in such a way that there is no heavy financial burden on economically weaker families. Both the Central and State governments together are giving a huge subsidy on the total construction cost of a pucca house:
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Financial help from central government: ₹1.50 lakh per house
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Chhattisgarh State Government Grant: ₹2.50 lakh per house
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Beneficiary’s own contribution: only ₹75,000
For the convenience of poor families, there is no compulsion to deposit even this nominal amount of ₹ 75,000 in lump sum, rather the option to repay it in easy installments has been given. Apart from this, the families who are unable to pay this amount in cash are also being provided micro-finance and loan facilities at very nominal interest rates through local banks and financial institutions.
Under the previously applicable rules, only those citizens who could produce proof of their residence in the city on or before August 31, 2015, were considered eligible for housing allotment under PM Awas (Urban). Due to this strict time limit, lakhs of poor families who came to cities and settled in cities in search of work, labor or employment after 2015 were deprived of the benefits of the scheme.
Now after changing the cut-off date to 31 August 2024, all eligible EWS families living in the concerned urban body area will be able to submit their applications till 31 August 2024. For this, ration card, Aadhar card, voter ID, electricity bill or any valid residence certificate issued by the local body will be accepted.
The government has clarified that this is not just a project to erect a boundary wall, but the entire residential complex is being developed as a well-organized and modern colony. Every residence is being provided with 24-hour supply of pure drinking water, uninterrupted electricity connection, paved roads, street lights, sewerage treatment plant and solid waste management.
Apart from this, civic amenities like parks for children to play, community halls and primary health centers are also being developed in these colonies, so that the standard of living of the families moving out of slums to permanent houses can be improved.
According to the latest data released regarding the pace of housing construction, so far administrative approval has been given for the construction of 36,969 houses in Chhattisgarh. Of these, 29,267 houses have been completely completed, while the construction work of 7,702 houses is going on at a fast pace.
So far, the administration has allotted 30,438 houses to the eligible families and 21,923 families have started living comfortably in their new permanent houses. The state Urban Administration and Development Department has directed all Municipal Corporation Commissioners and Chief Municipal Officers to complete the process of verification and list preparation of new eligible beneficiaries within the next 15 days by following the revised cut-off rules.