Daily Current Affairs : 30-October-2023
The Jharkhand Cabinet has taken a significant step in addressing housing issues for the poor by approving the ‘Abua Awas Yojna’ (AAY), a housing scheme aimed at providing shelter to those without a home. This scheme holds the potential to transform the lives of countless individuals who have been living in precarious conditions. In this essay, we will delve into the key details, the need for the scheme, the provisions it offers, eligible beneficiaries, and the ineligibility criteria.
Key Details:
The ‘Abua Awas Yojna’ (AAY) has several crucial aspects:
- Scope of the Scheme:
- Aiming to provide eight lakh pucca houses to the homeless in Jharkhand.
- A total budget of Rs 16,320 crore earmarked for this initiative.
- It will be executed in three phases:
- 2 lakh houses in the current financial year.
- 3.5 lakh houses in FY 2024-25.
- 2.5 lakh houses in FY 2025-26.
Need for the Scheme:
The necessity for AAY arises from the limitations of existing Union Government housing schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Rural and Ambedkar Awas Yojna, which have been unable to encompass all eligible beneficiaries. Approximately 8 lakh deserving individuals were left out of the reach of these housing initiatives.
Provisions under the Scheme:
The ‘Abua Awas Yojna’ offers several provisions to the beneficiaries:
- Housing Specifications: A three-room and one-kitchen house with a total area of 31 square meters will be provided under this scheme, ensuring better living conditions compared to the PMAY-Rural, which constructs houses with two rooms and one kitchen.
- Financial Support: The government has allocated Rs 2 lakh per beneficiary in its budget, to be disbursed in four installments.
- Employment Opportunities: Beneficiaries can work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and earn wages for up to 95 unskilled man-days while building their houses.
- Sanitation Facilities: The scheme includes a provision for adding a toilet to the house’s construction, utilizing funds from the Swaccha Bharat Mission or other available scheme funds.
- Women Empowerment: All houses built under AAY will be registered in the name of women in the beneficiary families, promoting gender equality and women’s rights.
Eligible Beneficiaries:
The AAY scheme targets the following groups:
- People living in kutcha houses.
- Homeless or unattended individuals.
- Priority for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
- Families affected by natural calamities.
- Bonded laborers rescued through legal processes.
- Individuals not beneficiaries of any other housing schemes.
Ineligibility Criteria:
Certain individuals and families are not eligible for AAY. These include:
- People owning four-wheelers or fishing boats.
- Owners of three or four-wheelers used for agricultural purposes.
- Individuals working or retired from government or semi-government jobs.
- Family members elected as public representatives.
- Income tax payers.
- Individuals paying professional tax.
- Families with refrigerators.
- Families with either 2.5 acres of land and at least one irrigation equipment or 5 acres of irrigated land.
Important Points:
- Key Details:
- Aims to provide 8 lakh pucca houses in Jharkhand.
- Total budget: Rs 16,320 crore.
- Phases: 2 lakh houses in the current year, 3.5 lakh in FY 2024-25, and 2.5 lakh in FY 2025-26.
- Need for the Scheme:
- Existing schemes couldn’t cover all eligible beneficiaries.
- About 8 lakh eligible beneficiaries left out.
- Provisions under the Scheme:
- Houses with three rooms and one kitchen (31 sq m area).
- Rs 2 lakh per beneficiary disbursed in four installments.
- Employment opportunities under MGNREGS.
- Provision for adding a toilet to the house’s construction.
- Houses registered in the name of women in beneficiary families.
- Eligible Beneficiaries:
- People living in kutcha houses.
- Homeless or unattended individuals.
- Priority for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
- Families affected by natural calamities.
- Bonded laborers rescued through legal processes.
- Individuals not beneficiaries of any other housing schemes.
- Ineligibility Criteria:
- People owning specific vehicles (four-wheelers, fishing boats).
- Individuals working or retired from government jobs.
- Public representatives, income tax payers, and professional tax payers.
- Families with refrigerators or specific land and irrigation equipment.
Why In News
The Jharkhand Cabinet, recently, approved the ‘Abua Awas Yojna’ (AAY) — a housing scheme for the poor, aiming to provide affordable and secure housing to underprivileged families in the state, thereby fostering social welfare and economic stability.
MCQs about Jharkhand’s Abua Awas Yojna (AAY)
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What is the main objective of the ‘Abua Awas Yojna’ (AAY) recently approved by the Jharkhand Cabinet?
A) Providing free education to children
B) Offering healthcare services to the elderly
C) Constructing affordable housing for the poor
D) Promoting agricultural development
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Which of the following groups will receive priority under the AAY scheme?
A) Urban residents
B) Economically well-off families
C) Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)
D) Foreign tourists
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What is the unique feature of AAY regarding the registration of houses?
A) Houses are registered under the government’s name
B) Houses are registered jointly under the husband and wife’s names
C) Houses are mandatorily registered in the name of women in beneficiary families
D) Houses are not registered to protect the privacy of beneficiaries
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What distinguishes the financial support provided under AAY from other housing schemes like PMAY-Rural?
A) AAY offers higher financial assistance per beneficiary
B) PMAY-Rural provides funds in a single installment
C) AAY funds are provided to build community centers
D) PMAY-Rural offers financial support only to urban residents
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