Tag: housing

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) – A Detailed Overview

1. Introduction

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is a flagship housing scheme launched by the Government of India on June 25, 2015, with the vision of providing “Housing for All” by 2022. The mission aims to provide affordable housing to the urban and rural poor through government subsidies, financial assistance, and public-private partnerships.

PMAY is divided into two components:

  1. PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U) – For urban areas.
  2. PMAY-Gramin (PMAY-G) – For rural areas.

The scheme is aligned with India’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promotes eco-friendly construction methods.

2. Objectives of PMAY

The key objectives of PMAY include:

  1. Providing Affordable Housing – Ensuring every Indian has a pucca house with basic facilities.
  2. Slum Rehabilitation – Replacing slums with proper housing.
  3. Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) – Offering subsidized home loans to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low-Income Group (LIG), and Middle-Income Group (MIG).
  4. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) – Encouraging private sector participation in affordable housing.
  5. Use of Green Technology – Promoting sustainable and eco-friendly construction techniques.

3. Components of PMAY

PMAY is implemented through four key verticals:

a. In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR)

  • Redevelopment of slum areas by providing better housing facilities.
  • Uses land as a resource with private sector involvement.

b. Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS)

  • Interest subsidies on home loans for EWS, LIG, and MIG categories.
  • Subsidy varies based on income levels:
    • EWS & LIG: 6.5% interest subsidy on loans up to ₹6 lakh.
    • MIG-I: 4% interest subsidy on loans up to ₹9 lakh.
    • MIG-II: 3% interest subsidy on loans up to ₹12 lakh.

c. Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP)

  • Encourages state governments and private developers to build affordable homes.
  • Beneficiaries get a ₹1.5 lakh central assistance per house.

d. Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC)

  • Financial assistance for individual house construction on own land.
  • ₹1.5 lakh grant is provided to eligible beneficiaries.

4. PMAY-U (Urban Component)

a. Features of PMAY-U

  • Covers all statutory towns of India.
  • Preference to women, senior citizens, SC/ST, and differently-abled individuals.
  • Promotes eco-friendly construction materials.
  • Smart cities and urban planning integration.

b. Financial Outlay

  • Total budget: ₹1.89 lakh crore (2015-2022).
  • Funds shared between Central and State Governments (60:40 ratio in most states).

c. Achievements of PMAY-U

  • Over 1.18 crore houses sanctioned.
  • 76 lakh houses completed and handed over.
  • 70% of beneficiaries are women, promoting gender empowerment.

5. PMAY-G (Gramin Component)

a. Features of PMAY-G

  • Aims to provide pucca houses to all rural poor by 2024.
  • House size increased to 25 sq. meters with essential facilities.
  • Focus on natural disaster-resistant structures.
  • Uses Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for transparency.

b. Financial Outlay

  • Total budget: ₹1.5 lakh crore.
  • Central to State Fund Ratio:
    • Plain areas: 60:40.
    • Hilly & NE states: 90:10.

c. Achievements of PMAY-G

  • Over 2.95 crore houses sanctioned.
  • 2 crore+ houses completed as of 2024.
  • Reduced rural homelessness significantly.

6. Eligibility Criteria

a. PMAY-U Eligibility

  1. EWS (Annual income up to ₹3 lakh) – Eligible for all benefits.
  2. LIG (Annual income ₹3-6 lakh) – Eligible for CLSS & subsidy.
  3. MIG-I (Annual income ₹6-9 lakh) – Eligible for CLSS (4% interest subsidy).
  4. MIG-II (Annual income ₹9-12 lakh) – Eligible for CLSS (3% interest subsidy).
  5. Women, SC/ST, OBC, and differently-abled people are given priority.

b. PMAY-G Eligibility

  1. Families without a pucca house.
  2. No government employee in the household.
  3. Priority given to SC/ST, widows, disabled persons, and landless households.

7. Challenges in Implementation

a. Land and Infrastructure Issues

  • Shortage of land in urban areas for affordable housing projects.
  • Limited infrastructure development (water, roads, electricity) in new housing locations.

b. Slow Project Execution

  • Delays in approval and fund disbursement.
  • Lack of coordination between central and state governments.

c. Private Sector Participation

  • Limited interest from private developers due to low-profit margins.
  • Need for better incentives and subsidies for real estate firms.

d. Awareness and Accessibility

  • Many eligible beneficiaries lack awareness about PMAY benefits.
  • Difficulties in obtaining home loans due to financial constraints.

8. Future of PMAY (Post-2024 Plans)

a. PMAY 2.0 (Proposed)

  • Focus on rental housing for migrant workers.
  • Integration with Smart City projects for sustainable urban development.
  • Increased funding for slum rehabilitation.
  • Use of AI and GIS mapping for better planning.

b. Green and Sustainable Housing

  • Use of solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and energy-efficient designs.
  • “Net Zero” housing models to reduce carbon footprint.

c. Strengthening Private Sector Role

  • More incentives for builders to develop affordable housing.
  • Faster approval process for housing projects.

9. Conclusion

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has significantly transformed India’s housing sector, providing millions of homes to the urban and rural poor. While challenges remain, the mission has laid the foundation for affordable, inclusive, and sustainable housing development in India.

With PMAY 2.0 and future enhancements, India aims to achieve 100% housing for all, ensuring that every citizen has a safe, secure, and dignified living space.

HOW TO MAKES YOUR HOME SAFE DURING COVID-19

The government released a new set of guidelines this week to combat COVID-19 transmission, emphasising the importance of masks, distance, hygiene, and well-ventilated spaces. It has been stressed that “ventilation can decrease the risk of transmission” from an infected individual to others.

It was recommended that outdoor air be introduced into workplaces, houses, and wider public spaces, as well as that steps be taken to increase ventilation in these spaces.

It was also recommended that fans, open windows and doors, even partially open windows, be strategically placed to introduce outdoor air and increase indoor air quality. It also said that adding cross ventilation and exhaust fans is helpful in curtailing fans running if the windows and doors are locked, it said.

To generate the optimal air flow for optimum protection from indoor infection, add an exhaust fan or convert a pedestal fan into an exhaust fan by turning it to face outdoors, according to the guidelines.

COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged stay-at-home phenomenon, according to Shalini Chandrashekar, principal designer and co-founder, Taliesyn- Design & Architecture, have revised the value of comfortable dwellings.

Optimizing the use of natural sunlight

By orienting the openings toward the northeast (N-E), an open breezeway can be created within the built volume. Orienting the kitchen in the southeast (S-E) will reward the mundane morning chores with the soothing morning sunshine, and locating the bedroom in the southwest (S-W) can pull in the warmth of the afternoon golden sun, all such conscious considerations can come in handy when designing a well-ventilated home, she advised.

Furthermore, strategically placing the openings while keeping the sun path and wind direction in mind lowers the operational costs of mechanical temperature regulation and indoor lighting, allowing the architecture to take on a more elevated spatial identity, she adds.

Incorporating skylights

In India, people prefer to keep their windows closed to keep insects out and preserve privacy. Openings with screens or jaalis can solve this problem by allowing fresh air in while maintaining protection and privacy.

Windows with buck mesh and sheer curtains inside are positioned disgonally to allow for instant cross-ventilation in the room. Because of the heat strength coming from those directions, large glass walls on the south and west are typically closed.

“It’s best to ensure that the prevailing wind direction of the site/city is taken into account and the fenestrations are placed in accordance with them to maximize the air flow,” Meena Murthy Kakkar, Design Head and Partner, Envisage, says.

Keeping the house dry

For proper ventilation and hygiene, it is important to keep the house dry. To keep the dampness out, create a dedicated wet utility area, which is a semi-covered utility room for washing and drying. Powerful exhausts in the kitchen and toilets, as well as easy-to-open windows, are a must if the position allows it. To keep the kitchen dry, place it in the sunniest part of the house.

Segregating wet and dry areas

If you have a balcony in a shady corner or a house without a balcony, invest in a dryer to prevent a dark and musty odour inside. Separate the dry and wet areas of your bathroom’s bathing enclosures with a partition. This also aids in preventing moisture from entering your quarters. Invest in high-capacity exhaust fans.

Arun K.R., senior architect at Brick&Bolt says, “We usually take care to provide sufficient and proper air circulation by having larger windows. Since morning sunlight is so beneficail, openings to the east help.”