NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog released the latest Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) India Index for 2023-24 in July, providing an overview of the government’s initiatives. It showcased the progress achieved and how the schemes and initiatives are contributing to these goals.
In this article, ResponsibleUs has tried to highlight the progress in housing since it was announced and how far we have come in achieving a place where everyone has a home.
As per the SDG India Index for 2023-24, over 4 crore houses have been built under the PM Awas Yojana (PMAY). The scheme is unique because it not only focuses on building houses but also aims to provide complete households under one roof. This includes the installation of 11 crore toilets and 2.23 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes in rural areas, allowing people to avoid open defecation. Additionally, 10 crore LPG connections have been provided through the PM Ujjwala Yojana, while tap water connections have reached over 14.9 crore households under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Building Homes For All
Every bird leaves its nest in the morning and returns in the evening. To build that small nest, birds gather twigs and dry grass. And it’s not just birds; every human being needs a place to call home. To address this problem, since independence, the government has been introducing new schemes and policies to ensure that every individual has a shelter to return to after work.
To meet the growing need for homes, in 1985, the central government launched the Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana, providing a 20-square-foot home with a subsidy of Rs 70,000.
The progress of the scheme has been measured during the 2001 sensus that reveaved that provided amount is too less and the scheme is not able to fulfill the requiremment as around 40 per cent of the population has not house or houses in deteorarting condition.
The PM government in 2015, annonced a scheme to improvise urban areas and cities and in 2016, a sheme has been lauched to imrovise and enhace rural areas with an aim to provide home for homeless people.
The developmement programme has been already launched under Indira Awas Yojan, but it was not up to mark and has many flaws in it. To imrove this the PM govet has brougt PM Awas Yojan.
Who All Are Elegible
There were many people who didn’t have a home, such as the destitute, manual scavengers, and others without housing, who were eligible for aid. The only difference under the Indira Awas Yojana was that only those below the poverty line were eligible. While, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, a new socio-economic survey was conducted to identify those eligible for housing.
Another key difference was the size of the house, which was increased to 25 square meters. It was also found that Rs 70,000 was insufficient to build a home, so the amount was raised from Rs 70,000 to Rs 120,000, with an additional loan of Rs 70,000 available at a low-interest rate of 2-3%.
But just having a house is not enough; a person needs a kitchen to cook food and proper sanitation to avoid going outside. To meet these needs, the government introduced additional schemes. Under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, funds were allocated to build proper sanitation facilities, and under the Ujjwala Yojana, LPG gas cylinders were provided to reduce outdoor cooking and protect the environment from smoke caused by burning wood or cow dung cakes.
Furthermore, those building their own homes will receive 95 days of wages under the MNREGA scheme. So, a comprehensive effort was made to meet basic living needs.
The overall data showed that the efforts and new schemes announced by the government have impacted many individuals’ lives and are inching towards the achievement of the SDGs. Despite all the flaws and glitches, it has still managed to improve the scores in the index.