Poor families having a single girl child will also be able to avail benefits on priority basis under the Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) as per the revised guidelines framed by the Union Rural Development Ministry.
A flagship scheme launched in 1996, the IAY aims at addressing rural housing needs by giving grant for construction of dwelling units for BPl families.
However, a major amendment has been introduced recently in the revised guidelines with an aim to improve sex ratio which is witnessing a sharp decline in the country over the years, said a senior official in the Ministry.
“This is one of the several measures from the Government as an incentive to protect vulnerable girl child. Bringing the poor families having only girl child under the IAY ambit would only help the cause in the indirect way,” he said.
According to the revised guidelines, top priority in allocation of dwelling unit will be given to women in difficult circumstances, including widows, those divorced or deserted, women victims of atrocities and those whose husbands are missing for at least three years, and, women headed families.
And, second priority will be given to families with a single girl child. The move comes keeping in view of an alarming decrease in the girl sex ration across India from 927 in 2001 to 919 in 2011, as per the Census 2011 report. Households where a member is suffering from leprosy or cancer, people living with HIV (PlHIV) can also look towards help at the earliest under the scheme.
Besides, the new amended IAY 2013 guidelines which were framed in May will also give priority for rehabilitation of people affected by occupational diseases like silicosis, asbestos, overuse of pesticides etc. or those affected in an epidemic of diseases like Kala-azar.
Also, under the new system, the Centre will receive only consolidated district-wise proposals from each state instead of separate ones from each district.
From 2014-15, all funds will be sent to the consolidated State fund and each State would be responsible for disbursing them to districts. In case of delay of more than 15 days in transfer of funds by the State to the implementing authority, a penal interest will be charged, official said.