Rural Housing in National Perspective

Housing is one of basic requirements for human survival. For a normal citizen, owning a house provides significant economic security and dignity in society. For a shelter less person, possession of a house brings about a profound social change in his existence, endowing him with an identity, thus integrating him with his immediate social milieu.
According to the 1991 Census, the rural housing shortage was 13.72 million consisting of 3.41 million households without houses and 10.31 million living in unserviceable kutcha houses. It has also been estimated that another 10.75 million houses would be needed to cover the population growth during 1991-2002, at the rate of an annual growth of 0.89 million houseless ness. The 1991 Census further indicates that about 40.82% of the total of 112 million rural households remains in one-room tenements, 30.65% in two-room houses and 13.51% in three-room units or more. In terms of roof type, the percentage of houses having grass, straw and thatch is about 33%, mud and unburnt bricks 6.05% and tents 4.22%. Apart from this, in terms of quality of walling, 47.27% of the total households have grass and straw walls and about 4% have tent and cloth walls. Nearly 70% of the rural houses are either unserviceable kutcha (9%) or serviceable kutcha (25%) or of semi-pucca (35%) category as per Census 1991. Over 90% of the rural houses have no provision for toilet as per the Census 1991. This suggests that there is a clear correlation between poverty and housing: a poor person either does not have a house or lives in an unserviceable kutcha house. The Central Government announced in 1998, the National Housing and Habitat Policy which aims at providing 'Housing for All', with an emphasis on extending benefits to the poor and the deprived.
Government is committed to the goal of ending all “shelter-less ness” by the end of the Ninth Plan period and conversion of all unserviceable kutcha houses to pucca/semi pucca by the end of the Tenth Plan Period. For achieving these objectives, a comprehensive Action Plan for Rural Housing has gone on-stream.
The Action Plan for Rural Housing consists of the following elements:
Provision for up-gradation of unserviceable kutcha houses in
Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) in addition to new construction.
Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana: Gramin Awaas
Credit-cum-Subsidy Scheme for Rural Housing
Innovative Stream for Rural Housing & Habitat Development
Rural Building Centres.
Samagra Awaas Yojana.
Enhancement in equity contribution by Ministry of Rural Development to HUDCO.
National Mission for Rural Housing & Habitat.

Indira Awaas Yojana

The Government of India is implementing Indira Awaas Yojana since the year 1985-86, with the objective of providing assistance, to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) rural households belonging primarily to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and freed bonded labour categories. From the year 1993-94, its scope was extended to cover rural BPL, Non-scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, poor subject to the condition that non SC/ST households shall not receive more than 40% of IAY allocation. Benefits of the Scheme have also been extended to families of ex-servicemen of the armed and paramilitary forces killed in action. A View of the Houses constructed under IAY 3% of the houses is reserved for BPL physically and mentally challenged persons, living in rural areas. The ceiling on construction assistance under the Indira Awaas Yojana currently is Rs. 20,000 per unit for plain areas and Rs. 22,000 for hilly/difficult areas for new construction. The ceiling on construction assistance upgradation of a kutcha house to semipucca/pucca condition is Rs. 10,000. Under the IAY, the Gram Sabha is empowered to select the beneficiaries under the Scheme. Further, the allotment of dwelling units should be in the name of the female member of the beneficiary household.
Alternatively, it can be allotted in the name of both husband and wife. Sanitary latrine and smokless chullah are an integral part of the IAY house. The construction of the house is the responsibility of the beneficiary. The IAY house is not to be constructed and delivered by any external agency such as government departments, NGOs, etc. Since inception of the Scheme till January, 2001 around 68 lakh houses have been constructed under IAY with an expenditure of Rs. 11324 crores approximately.

Physical and Financial Achievements under Indira Awaas
Yojana since inception till date
Year Expenditure
(Rs. In Crores)		 Number of
houses built
1985-86
1986-87
1987-88
1988-89
1989-90
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-2001*		 57.93
149.18
235.37
149.65
188.50
213.07
263.01
238.81
481.00
500.38
1,166.36
1,385.92
1,591.48
1803.88
1907.63
991.66		 51,252
1,60,197
1,69,302
1,39,192
1,86,023
1,81,800
2,07,299
1,92,585
3,72,535
3,90,482
8,63,889
8,06,290
7,70,936
8,35,770
9,29,679
4,98,496
Total 11,323.83 67,51,727
* up to 13.02.2001

Criteria of Allocation under Indira Awaas Yojana
Allocation of funds under Indira Awaas Yojana to the States/UTs is made based on poverty ratios as approved by the Planning Commission and rural housing shortage figures drawn from Census 1991. Both parameters are given equal weightage.