Punjab Government has earmarked Rs10 crore during 2016-17 under Indira Awaas Yojna Scheme, aimed at providing houses to the members of Scheduled Castes (SC) and non-SCs free of cost in rural areas.
The beneficiaries are selected from eligible below poverty line households. “The houses under the scheme will be built on individual plots in village’s main habitation, but can also be built on micro-habitat approach or in cluster within a habitation, so as to facilitate the development of infrastructure such as internal roads, drains, drinking water supply and other common facilities,” said an official spokesperson of the state Rural Development and Panchayats Department.
He said that during 2009-10, a grant of Rs35,000 per unit was provided in the plain areas for construction of houses and Rs38,500 in hilly or difficult area for construction of houses which has further been enhanced to Rs45,000 in the plains and Rs48,500 in difficult areas from 2010-11.
For conversion of unserviceable katcha houses into pucca or semi pucca houses, the maximum limit has been increased to Rs15,000 per unit, he said.
He said that all the dwelling units are provided with smokeless chullas and sanitary latrines. The unit cost has been enhanced from Rs45,000 to Rs70,000 with effect from April 1, 2013, in plain areas, he added.
