Housing is vital for human survival and, therefore, essential for socioeconomic development. The need for improved housing is most acutely felt among the rural poor. As a part of the efforts to meet the housing needs of the rural poor, Indira Awaas Yojana was started in May 1985.
This programme which was being implemented as a sub scheme of the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, has now become an independent scheme with effect from 1.1.96.
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Objective:
This programme aims at providing dwelling units free of cost to the poor families of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded labourers and the non SC/ST people below poverty line in rural areas.
Salient Features:
(i) Rs. 1153 crores have been allocated at central level for 1997-98.
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(ii) Funds are distributed among the districts in accordance with the proportion of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population in the rural areas.
(iii) The order of priority is freed bonded labourers, SC/ST households who are victims of atrocities, SC/ST households below poverty line headed by widows and unmarried women, SC/ST households affected by floods and similar natural calamities and other SC/ST households below poverty line.
(iv) Expenditure on non-SC/ST poor families should not exceed 40% of the allocation under IAY.
(v) The allotment of house is made in the name of the female member of the beneficiary household. Alternatively, it may be in the joint name of both husband and wife.
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(vi) The beneficiaries are to be involved in the construction of houses from the very beginning and are to make their own arrangements for construction to suit their requirements.
(vii) Consequent to the coming into effect of the persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and full Participation) Act, it has been decided by the Government of India to earmark 3% of the funds for the benefit of persons with diabilities.
(viii) As far as possible houses are to be built in clusters so as to facilitate provision of common facilities.
(ix) The cost ceiling in difficult and hilly area is Rs. 22,000 and Rs. 20,000 in plain areas.
(x) Smokeless chullah and sanitary latrine are to be provided along with the houses.
(xi) Since inception of the scheme in the year 1985-86 till now about 37 lakh houses have been constructed with an expenditure of Rs. 5,000 crores.