Syllabus
GS Paper 2 – Issues arising out of design and implementation of government intervention
Applications where to apply?
When asked about
– Developmental Schemes
– Housing for all
– Social infrastructure
Context
As the current Union government completes two terms, one of its flagship programmes was Housing For All (HfA) by 2022, both in urban and rural areas, planned under the PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) scheme in 2015.
Source
The Hindu| Editorial dated 24th April 2024
An overview of the PMAY-U scheme
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) was launched in 2015 as a flagship programme of the Union government aimed at achieving Housing for All (HfA) by 2022, encompassing both urban and rural areas.
Under this scheme, various initiatives were planned to address the housing needs of different sections of society, including slum dwellers, economically weaker sections, and low-income groups. However, despite significant budgetary allocations and efforts, the scheme has faced several challenges in meeting its objectives.
Issues with PMAY Implementation
- Continued Shortfall in Housing:
- Despite the completion deadline passing in 2022, the goal of Housing for All remains elusive.
- The government extended the PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U) till December 31, 2024, to complete sanctioned houses. However, there is still a significant shortfall, with millions of households lacking adequate housing.
- Increasing Urban Housing Shortage:
- Urban housing shortage has increased significantly, with estimates indicating a rise of 54% from 2012 to 2018.
- The PMAY-U has only addressed a fraction of this shortage, leaving a substantial gap in housing provision.
- Challenges in In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR):
- The ISSR component, aimed at addressing the housing needs of slum dwellers, has faced challenges.
- Only a small percentage of eligible beneficiaries have been sanctioned houses under this vertical, indicating a failure to meet the pressing need for slum redevelopment.
- Private Sector Participation Issues:
- While the scheme emphasizes private sector participation, certain projects have not effectively addressed the needs of residents.
- Vertical growth and high recurring costs have posed challenges for slum dwellers, discouraging occupancy.
- Mismatch with City Master Plans:
- Discrepancies between city master plans and PMAY-U objectives have hindered effective implementation.
- Many city plans prioritize capital-intensive solutions over social housing, undermining the scheme’s goals.
- Limited Government Contribution:
- The architecture of PMAY places a significant financial burden on beneficiary households, with limited government contribution.
- Most of the investment expenditure is borne by households themselves, raising concerns about affordability for the landless and poor.
Way Ahead
To address the challenges faced by the PMAY scheme and improve its implementation, several solutions can be considered:
- Streamline Project Management:
- Implement effective project management strategies to expedite the construction process and ensure timely completion of housing units.
- This can include streamlining approval processes, optimizing resource allocation, and enhancing coordination among stakeholders.
- Increase Funding Allocation:
- Allocate additional funds to the PMAY scheme to address the growing urban housing shortage effectively.
- Increased funding can enable the construction of more housing units and facilitate the inclusion of marginalized communities, such as slum dwellers, in the housing program.
- Enhance Public-Private Partnerships:
- Foster stronger collaborations between the government and private sector stakeholders to leverage expertise, resources, and innovative solutions for housing development.
- Encourage private developers to participate in affordable housing projects by providing incentives and facilitating conducive regulatory frameworks.
- Revise Slum Redevelopment Strategies:
- Review and revise the strategies for in-situ slum redevelopment to better address the housing needs of slum dwellers.
- Focus on community engagement, participatory planning processes, and sustainable urban design principles to create livable and inclusive housing environments.
- Align with City Master Plans:
- Ensure alignment between the objectives of the PMAY scheme and city master plans to promote coherent urban development strategies.
- Integrate social housing initiatives into urban planning frameworks, emphasizing the importance of affordable housing provision in city planning processes.
- Expand Government Subsidies:
- Increase government subsidies and financial assistance to reduce the financial burden on beneficiary households and improve affordability.
- Enhance the scope and coverage of subsidy programs, such as the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS), to reach a wider segment of the population in need of housing support.
Conclusion
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) has been a significant initiative by the Union government to address the housing needs of the country’s population, especially the marginalized and economically weaker sections. However, the scheme has encountered various challenges, including inadequate implementation, issues related to land acquisition, and shortcomings in addressing the diverse housing requirements of urban and rural areas. Moving forward, there is a need for comprehensive reforms and strategic interventions to ensure the effective implementation of housing policies and achieve the goal of Housing for All.
Related Topics
Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G)
To achieve the objective of “Housing for All” by 2022, the erstwhile rural housing scheme Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) was restructured to Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G)w.e.f 1st April, 2016.
- Ministry Involved: Ministry of Rural development.
- Aim: To provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural families, who are homeless or living in kutcha or dilapidated houses by the end of March 2022.
- To help rural people Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of a full grant.
- Beneficiaries: People belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories, widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action, ex servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces, disabled persons and minorities.
- Selection of Beneficiaries: Through a three stage validation – Socio Economic Caste Census 2011, Gram Sabha, and geo-tagging.
- Cost Sharing: The cost of unit assistance is shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states.
Related PYQ
“Development and welfare schemes for the vulnerable, by its nature, are discriminatory in approach.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. [ UPSC Civil Services Exam – Mains 2023]
Practice Question
Critically analyze the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in addressing the housing needs of urban and rural populations in India. [250 words]
How to approach this question?
Introduction:
- Start by briefly explaining what the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is. Mention its objective of providing affordable housing to the urban and rural poor by 2022.
- State the significance of the scheme in the context of India’s housing needs.
Body:
- Positive Aspects of PMAY:
- Discuss the success of the scheme in terms of the number of houses built and the number of beneficiaries.
- Highlight the innovative aspects of the scheme such as the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) and the use of eco-friendly construction methods.
- Discuss how the scheme has promoted women’s empowerment by mandating the ownership of houses in the name of the female member of the household.
- Critical Analysis of PMAY:
- Discuss the challenges in the implementation of the scheme such as delays in construction, issues in beneficiary selection, and the quality of construction.
- Analyze the scheme’s impact on the target population. Has it been able to address the housing needs of both the urban and rural poor?
- Discuss any regional disparities in the implementation of the scheme.
Conclusion:
- Summarize the main points discussed in the body of the answer.
- Provide suggestions for improving the implementation of the scheme and better addressing the housing needs of the urban and rural populations.
- Conclude by reiterating the importance of the scheme in achieving the goal of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022.
Remember to provide a balanced answer, incorporating relevant facts and figures, and propose feasible solutions. Structure your answer well, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Also, ensure that your answer is within the word limit specified for the exam. Good luck!