Indira Awas Yojana: Key Features and Impact on Rural Development

The Indira Awas Yojana first came into force in 1985 under the guidance of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana was formed to provide affordable housing and rehabilitation to the rural population. Now, this scheme has been clubbed with the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme directed by the current Government. Also known as the Pradhan Mantri Garmin Awas Yojana scheme aims to provide housing to nearly 6.5 crores of urban slum dwellers in tune with Narendra Modi’s “Housing for all” slogan. Anyone living under the poverty line and in the lower-income group people is eligible for this scheme. So, Let’s take a look at how this scheme works and benefits the poor.

Indira Awas Yojana for the poor

Despite the rapid GDP growth, homelessness is still a significant issue in most parts of India. This is because many people live in slums under poor and unhygienic conditions. To combat this, the Indira Awas Yojana was introduced in 1985. It was introduced as a sub-scheme of the Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme and aimed to rehabilitate people below the poverty line. In 1995-96 the scope of this scheme was extended to widows and close relatives of defence personnel who had been killed while on duty. Each state has their dedicated site for the IAY. 

Indira Awas Yojana Changed To PMAY-G By Central Government

Under the flagship slogan “Housing for All”, the Government aims to provide affordable housing for all by 2022. There is no apparent reason why the name of the Rural Housing Indira Awas Yojana has been changed. The erstwhile Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana Garmin has been clubbed with the ongoing Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Its benefits are extended to people below the poverty line and lower-income groups. Another thing to be noted is that the urban citizen is also eligible for this housing scheme via a home loan interest subsidy. The applicant can receive an interest subsidy through the CLSS process based on their income.
Read: 2024 Real Estate Trends and Property Rates in Delhi

Key Features Of Indira Awas Yojana

Here are the key features of Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY):

1. Ownership of Houses:
   1. Joint ownership of the house by husband and wife, except for unmarried individuals, widowers, or divorced individuals.
   2. In some cases, the State may allocate ownership of the house to women in the household.
   3. Houses allotted to persons with disabilities or handicaps are owned by the specific individual.
2. Construction of the House:
   1. Beneficiaries are responsible for the construction of the house.
   2. Involvement of contractors or external agencies is not allowed. Funding may be withdrawn if a contractor is involved.
   3. Technical assistance can be provided by government agencies or departments.
   4. Support services from Youth Clubs, NGOs, or charitable organizations can be sought for monitoring and construction assistance.
3. Design and Construction Standards:
   1. Promotes eco-friendly housing techniques, such as using local materials and construction methods.
   2. Emphasizes improving the standard of living while minimizing environmental impact.
   3. Houses should have sufficient space for a family and barrier-free designs for individuals with disabilities.
4. Release of Funds in Installments:
   1. First installment (25% of unit cost) is provided on Awaas Divas along with the sanction order.
   2. Second installment (60% of cost) is released upon reaching the lintel level.
   3. Third installment (15% of cost) is provided once the house has a bathroom/latrine and the beneficiary has started residing in it. All funds are dispersed from the Indira Awas Yojana Amount.
5. Construction Time Limit:
   1. Lintel Level Construction: 9 months from the date of receiving the first installment.
   2. Completion: 9 months from the date of receiving the second installment.

Benefits of Indira Awas Yojana

The PM Indira Awas Yojana scheme was beneficial to the rural poor for a variety of reasons. Let’s take a look  at benefits of IAY 2022-23.
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1. Under IAY, each house was constructed to meet the requirements of the new residents. This helped low-income families settle down faster.
2. For construction, locally sourced good, quality materials were used that could last a minimum of 30 years.
3. The scheme encouraged the use of eco-friendly materials for sustainable construction techniques while also generating employment.
4. The program especially encouraged and enabled Garmin panchayats to spearhead a change in their jurisdiction so that the scheme’s purpose was fulfilled.
5. Under IAY, home constructions could be customised by adding required provisions like a work area.

Indira Awas Scheme- Eligibility

Since Indira Awas Yojana launch date, the scheme has changes eligibility criterion multiple times. Certain conditions have to be fulfilled before you can apply for the Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana Gramin. They are:

• Homeless families or families with households having zero, one or two rooms on kutcha all and roof( based on the SECC data)
• Households where there are no literate adult members above 25 years old.
• Households where there is no adult member between 16-and 59 years.
• Households with one or more specially-abled members 
• Female-headed households without any adult male members aged between 16 to 59 years.
• Households without any land whose only source of income is daily labour.

The PMAY-G scheme naturally covers these categories of people without any questions. They are

• Households without any shelter
• Primitive and endangered tribal groups 
• Manual scavengers
• Bonded labourers who have been legally released
• Destitute people who are living on alms

The following individuals or families are not eligible for the PMAY-G scheme:

• Individuals who own motorized two- or three-wheeler vehicles, agricultural equipment, or fishing boats.
• Families with a government employee as a member who earns a monthly income exceeding Rs. 10,000.
• Individuals who possess a Kisan Credit Card with a spending limit equal to or greater than Rs. 50,000.
• Families with a member who pays income or professional tax.
• Families that have a landline connection or own a refrigerator.

Indira Awas Scheme: Documents Required

To avail the benefits of PMAY-G, you will typically need the following documents:

1. Filled PMAY-G application form.
2. Aadhaar card (for identification purposes).
3. Consent document authorizing the concerned authorities to use your Aadhaar information.
4. Bank account details (for direct benefit transfer).
5. Affidavit declaring that the applicant or any member of their family does not own a pucca house in India.
6. Job card registered under the MNREGA scheme.

How to check the Indira Awas Yojana list

You can get access to the state-wise IAY report of the current year by simply visiting the official PMAY-G site. Follow these few steps.

1. First, visit the official website of the PMAY-G authorities (https://pmayg.nic.in/netiay/home.aspx). The home page will look something like this.

2. From the Tabs section on top, click on Awaassoft> Reports.

3. On clicking Report, you will be redirected to a new page where you can see several options. 

4. Under the “Physical Progress Reports” tab, choose the first option “, Houses completed in a financial year (irrespective of target year)”. 

5. On clicking the option, a new page will appear where you can see the Indira Awas Yojana details state wide.

Indira Awas Yojana online Application

Now that the current Government has extended this tax benefit to the middle class, this scheme has become increasingly popular in Karnataka. You simply need to follow a few steps to register and apply for the Indira Awas Yojana Karnataka. To apply for this housing scheme, simply visit the official site of the PMAY. (https://homefirstindia.com/article/pradhan-mantri-awas-yojana-in-karnataka/). Now click on “Citizen Assessment” and follow the instructions given at each step to apply for this scheme online. 

Although, the list is generated by the Gram Sabha as per the census details of 2011, it gives the citizens an option to register themselves as beneficiary. Here are the seps to apply for the list:

1. Visit the PMAY-G website.
2. Fill in the necessary information as per the registration requirements.
3. Provide your Aadhaar number and click on the ‘Search’ button.
4. If your name is found, click on ‘Select to Register.’
5. Enter the remaining personal details as prompted.
6. Upload the consent form, as applicable.
7. Enter your bank account details.
8. Indicate whether you wish to avail a loan by selecting ‘Yes’ and enter the desired loan amount.
9. On the subsequent page, enter your MGNREGA card number and SBMG number, if applicable.

How to check the Indira Awas Yojana list

You can get access to the state-wise IAY report of the current year by simply visiting the official PMAY-G site. Follow these few steps.

1. First, visit the official website of the PMAY-G authorities (https://pmayg.nic.in/netiay/home.aspx). The home page will look something like this.

2. From the Tabs section on top, click on Awaassoft> Reports.

3. On clicking Report, you will be redirected to a new page where you can see several options. 

4. Under the “Physical Progress Reports” tab, choose the first option “, Houses completed in a financial year (irrespective of target year)”. 

5. On clicking the option, a new page will appear where you can see the Indira Awas Yojana details state wide.

By now, you must have a clear understanding of how the Indira Awas Yojana works and how beneficial it is. Aimed at rehabilitation and housing for the rural and urban poor, this scheme has gained much popularity and for all the right reasons! If you wish to know more about the other government housing schemes available, then look at our blog section. If you need help in understanding and applying for government schemes, then you contact the NoBroker legal team for the same. Our experts have the right skills and knowledge to guide you through the process itself.

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