ADVERTISEMENTS:
This article throws light upon the top four housing schemes in India.
1. Housing Programme for the Rural Poor:
For the rural housing, the First Five Year Plan (1951-56) indicates that due to financial constraints a satisfactory programme could not be envisaged.
Therefore, the principle of aided self-help was followed in the case of rural housing.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The Second Five Year Plan (1956-61) also continued this approach of aided self-help, by mainly earmarking funds for technical advice, demonstration of model houses etc. The village Housing Scheme was introduced in 1957 for providing assistance to villagers for construction and improvement of houses. For house sites to landless agricultural workers and for streets and drains in selected villages.
The Third Five Year Plan (1961-66) also continued the facilitating approach but identified housing as part of the larger scheme of rural development.
The Fourth Five Year Plan (1969-74) admitted that the village housing scheme Introduced during the second plan had not made much progress. In 1972, the rural house site-cum-house construction scheme was launched which for the first time conceived a much more active role for the government in rural housing. However, the role was restricted to provide meagre subsidies for site development and construction.
The Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-79) continued this scheme a little more vigorously by including it as a major component of the Minimum Needs programme.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The Sixth Plan (1980-85) aimed at substantially reducing the number of absolutely shelter-less people and providing funds for others to improve their housing environment.
The Seventh Plan (1985-90) saw a major shift with respect to involvement of states in housing activity. It was suggested that the major responsibility for house construction should be left to the private sector, in particular the household sector.
It was in the seventh plan that the government went back on commitment as a provider by suggesting promotion of self-help, housing finance and involvement of private sector.
2. Housing Schemes for the Weavers/Basket Makers:
The Ministry of Textiles launched centrally sponsored work-shed-cum-housing scheme for various categories of artisans and handloom weavers in 1974-75. The scheme is continuing till date. It has been implemented in 12 states and 35,779 dwelling units have been sanctioned.
However concentration of activities, by using the criteria of number of units built till July 2003, has been found in Tamil Nadu followed by Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Orissa, UP and Rajasthan.
The Ministry of Textiles had also launched a housing scheme for basket makers: however, it has been implemented only in Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Manipur. Under the scheme till July 2003, only 323 houses have been sanctioned/ constructed.
3. Housing Scheme for the Beedi Workers:
The Ministry of Labour launched a housing scheme for economically weaker section workers engaged in Beedi industry. The State Governments provided land for construction of houses in the total cost of the house was Initially fixed at Rs. 25,000 of which, the subsidy amount was Rs. 9,000 inclusive of development charges.
The scheme is under implementation in eight states and major beneficiary states are Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, MP and Kerala.
4. Housing Scheme for the Fishermen:
The fishermen housing scheme was promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1985-86 to encourage construction of houses both In rural and urban areas; for the low income community among the fishermen. The scheme has been implemented in 19 states and 4 union territories. Up to July 2003, 43,564 dwelling units have been sanctioned.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
HUDCO has also been funding the housing schemes for fishermen from 1976-77 onwards and only five coastal states have- been benefited. Under HUDCO funded schemes, 42,315 dwelling units have been sanctioned up to July 2003.
The National Housing and Habitat Policy have given special emphasis to the involvement and participation of the (PanchayatI Raj Institutions) PRIs and the women in providing shelter to the shelter less.
The 73rd Amendment of the constitution says that the PRIs shall prepare plans for economic development and social Justice at their levels including 29 subjects listed in the 11th Schedule of the constitution. As per this list, the subject Rural Housing has been given to the PRIs.
Housing is a basic necessity of the human beings. There is acute shortage of houses in the rural area as is evident from the findings of the 2001 census. To meet the requirement of houses in the rural areas, in addition to central and state sponsored housing schemes, the panchayats themselves should come forward to provide shelter to the villagers in the shortest period.
For this purpose, the panchayats should implement the centrally-sponsored schemes in an effective manner by way of activating the Gram Sabha and selecting only those persons who really deserve to have a house under the IAY. Corruption has to be eliminated from the process of providing houses to the homeless.
If this is not done at the earliest, people will lose faith in the sanctity of the institutions of Panchayati Raj and in their social agenda.
Hence, elected representatives of the panchayats have to be pro-active and careful in this context. In addition to this, panchayats should also take up the work of construction of houses by investing their own resources as well as by borrowing funds for the purpose from financial institutions.
But this can only happen if the panchayat leadership realizes the need and workability of more innovative schemes and takes initiative in this regard.