Affordable Housing Schemes in India (PMAY)

According to the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), India’s urban housing shortage rose by 54% from 18.78 million in 2012 to 29 million in 2018.

The 2011 census found that over 65 million people, about 5% of India’s total population, lived in slums.
India has around 1.7 million homeless people, as per the 2011 Census. Even for people with houses, the quality of buildings, congestion, and inadequate infrastructure remain major concerns.
As Per the government’s definition, affordable housing properties are those with an area not more than 60 sq.m, with the price capped at 45 lakh.

A right to housing has been held to be a part of the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution by the Supreme Court.
The first policy intervention from the Government came in 1985, with the Indira Awaas Yojana, which was focused on rural housing.
Urban housing came into focus with programmes such as the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ( JNNURM), launched in 2005.
In 2008, the Parekh Committee report on housing led to urban housing interventions such as the Rajiv Awas Yojana and Rajiv Rinn Yojna.
The Housing for All schemes (2015-22) were launched with two wings • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) and,
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U).

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) in 2015, as a flagship Mission of the Government of India.
Objective: It addresses urban housing shortage among the Economically Weaker Section (EWS)/Low Income Group (LIG) category including the slum dwellers by ensuring a pucca house to eligible urban households.
Components of the scheme are as;
In-situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR)
Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS)
Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP)
Beneficiary-led Individual House Construction/ Enhancement (BLC-N/ BLC-E)
Implementation period: The scheme was earlier from 25.06.2015 to 31.03.2022. Now it has been extended up to 31.12.2024, except Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) vertical, to complete all the houses sanctioned under the scheme.

Around 83% of the houses to be constructed under PMAY-U are not meant for the urban landless poor, but rather for families having access to capital and land.
The slum rehabilitation scheme within PMAY-U has sanctioned only 2.96 lakh homes.
Under PMAY-G more than 2.94 crore houses have already been sanctioned to the eligible beneficiaries by the States/UTs and over 2.55 crore houses have already been completed as on 01.02.2024.

The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) to provide assistance to eligible rural households with an overall target to construct 2.95 crore pucca houses with basic amenities.
The beneficiaries are provided financial Assistance of Rs.1.20 lakh in plain areas and Rs.1.30 lakh in hilly States.

The Andhra Pradesh government has undertaken schemes such as the Navaratnalu-Pedalandariki Illu.
Under this, the State had taken up construction of 21.76 lakh houses, with an outlay of 56,700 crore.

Acquiring land for housing projects at affordable rates, especially in urban areas, poses a significant challenge.
Identifying and verifying eligible beneficiaries is a complex process. Many potential beneficiaries are not aware of the PMAY
Delays in implementation of the projects due to lack of funds, bureaucratic red tape etc.
The PMAY-U promised houses for 1.18 crore families by December 2024. As of March 2024, it has only achieved around 67% of its target, that is, around 80 lakh.

Continuous monitoring and evaluation of the scheme’s progress are essential to identify bottlenecks, measure outcomes, and make necessary course corrections.
Also Incorporating sustainability measures and environmental considerations into housing projects is important for long-term viability.
Ensuring equitable distribution and addressing the needs of marginalized communities are critical for the success of PMAY.