The prime minister of India recently announced a new housing scheme aimed at addressing the housing crisis among the urban poor, during his address on the 77th Independence Day. This scheme complements the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U), a flagship initiative launched by the government in 2015.
Introduction to Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U)
The PMAY-U is administered by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and was established to address the significant shortage of affordable housing in urban areas among economically disadvantaged communities. The primary goal of this mission is to provide “pucca” (durable and permanent) houses to all eligible urban households by 2022. To ensure the completion of all sanctioned houses without any alteration in the funding pattern and implementation methodology, the scheme has been extended until December 2024.
Identifying the Beneficiaries of PMAY-U
The PMAY-U targets urban housing shortage among the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), and Middle Income Groups (MIG I & II). The beneficiary family consists of a husband, wife, and unmarried sons and/or daughters.
Components and Funding of PMAY-U
PMAY-U primarily comprises four components: In-situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR), Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme(CLS), Affordable Housing in Partnership(AHP), and Beneficiary-led Individual House Construction/Enhancement (BLC-N/BLC-E).
The ISSR offers central assistance of Rs. 1 lakh per dwelling for eligible slum dwellers during redevelopment. The CLSS provides interest subsidies to EWS/LIG and MIG beneficiaries seeking housing loans. The AHP component provides central assistance for each EWS dwelling in affordable housing projects. Lastly, the BLC-N/BLC-E component offers up to Rs. 1.5 lakh for building or enhancing individual houses to eligible EWS families.
Woman Empowerment through PMAY-U
Promoting woman empowerment is a distinctive feature of the PMAY-U, as it mandates the ownership of houses either in the name of a female member or as a joint ownership.
Progress Under PMAY-U
As per the latest data, out of the total 118.9 lakh houses completed under the PMAY-U initiative, 76.25 lakh are occupied.
Related Initiatives: ARHCs, ANGIKAAR Campaign, GHTC India
The government has introduced several related initiatives to supplement the PMAY-U. The Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) aims to provide affordable rental housing close to the workplace for urban migrants and poor. The ANGIKAAR campaign encourages the adoption of practices relating to water and energy conservation, waste management, health, sanitation, and hygiene among PMAY (U) beneficiaries. The Global Housing Technology Challenge – India (GHTC-India), initiated by MoHUA, focuses on identifying and integrating innovative construction technologies that are sustainable, eco-friendly, and disaster-resilient.