RURAL HOUSING                                 

INDIRA AWAS YOJANA

        Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) was launched in the year 1985-86 as component of RLEGP/ JRY by earmarking of 6-10% of fund out of it. IAY was later declared as an independent scheme during 1996-97 with separate allocation of fund under it. The objective of the scheme is to provide assistance for construction of houses by the SC/ST and free bonded labourer families living below the poverty line in the rural areas.
        A maximum amount of Rs. 22,000.00 is provided to the identified families in the hilly areas for construction of house including low-cost latrine, smokeless chulla and common facilities. Allotment of houses is to be done in the name of female member or joint allotment in the name of both husband and wife. There is no specific type design of house. The beneficiaries are to construct their houses and houses are not to be constructed by any external agency/ contractor.
        From 1999-2000, 20% of allocation of funds under IAY has been earmarked for construction of unserviceable kutcha houses into pucca/semi-pucca in respect of BPL families. A maximum assistance of Rs. 10,000 per family is provided for this purpose.
        The financial and physical achievements under IAY are placed at Table.
 

Table
 (Rs. In lakhs)

The Government of India introduced other new schemes under Rural Housing Sector during 1999-2000 and position against each is as follows:

SAMAGRA AWAS YOJANA (SAY)

        This schemes envisages improvement of the quality of life of the people by overall habitat development. One Block was selected in West Siang District (Along Block) during 1999-2000 on pilot basis. Project report is being prepared by the DRDA in collaboration with the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED). But detailed guidelines about the formulation project are still awaited from the Government of India.

INNOVATIVE STREAM OF RURAL HOUSING AND HABITAT DEVELOPMENT

        The objective of the scheme is promoting and propagating cost effective, environment friendly housing construction technologies and evolving ideal types of sustainable rural human settlement consistant with agro-climatic conditions. Guidelines about the formulation of projects have been received recently and action is in hand for formulation of projects.

CREDIT-CUM-SUBSIDY SCHEME

        This scheme envisages Upgradation of houses by way of conversion of kutcha houses into semi-permanent or permanent. The beneficiaries of the scheme will be rural households having annual income from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 32,000 (just above the poverty line). The rate of subsidy is Rs. 10,000 per household as maximum, which is to be linked with bank loan upto a maximum limit of Rs. 40,000.00. The Reserve Bank of India has not yet cleared this proposal for financing by banks.        Hence, the scheme is yet to be taken up.

RURAL BUILDING CENTER                                                                                       

        The objective of the scheme is to set up Rural Building Centres for (a) technology transfer (b) skill Upgradation of rural artisans (c ) production of cost effective and environment friendly materials for housing construction. This scheme will be implemented on pilot basis in two districts in collaboration with HUDCO and involving NGOs.

INSTITUTIONAL FINANCE

        The financing pattern of erstwhile IRDP and now Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) envisages 50% of estimated cost as subsidy as per subsidy ceiling limit and balance should come as bank loan. An ideal subsidy & Credit ratio was fixed at 1:1 during 7th Plan and 1:2 during 8th Plan. During 8th Plan ceiling of subsidy was Rs. 6000.00 per family under IRDP and the same for SGSY is Rs. 10,000.00 per individual Swarozgari from 1999-2000. The maximum subsidy limit for Self-Help Groups (SHG) under SGSY is Rs. 1.25 lakh and there is no limit of bank credit.
        IRDP was implemented during 6th Plan without bank credit by grant of 50% of estimated cost as subsidy and balance 50% was borne by the beneficiaries as their contribution in the shape of labour and local materials. But from 7th Plan, the linking of subsidy with credit was made mandatory by the Government of India to ensure adequate investment at the family level for taking up of viable projects to achieve sustained income. However, capital investment for scheme up-to Rs. 2000.00 was exempted from the credit linkage during 8th Plan and till 1998-99. But under SGSY there is no provision of such exemption.
        It could not be possible to mobilize bank credit as per ideal subsidy and credit ratio because of (a) unwillingness on the part of the beneficiaries to enter into the bondage of loan (b) absence of required infrastructure like road connectivity and marketing facilities through which products can be marketed in exchange of cash money (c) inadequate banking facilities as 13 out of 56 blocks are unbanked. The Service Area situated in interior places are not covered by the designated banks in the district HQs or Block HQs. There is no immediate possibility of expansion of banking services due to their own administrative problems. Inspite of all these limitations, credit was mobilized to some extent over the years as will be evident from the following Table.

Table
 (Rs. In lakhs)