Rajiv Awas Yojana

The Rajiv Awas Yojana was launched with the vision that the Central and State Governments would work hand-in-hand for the betterment of slums. It aimed to eradicate these structures by providing basic amenities to people living in slums. An estimated Rs. 3973 crores were allocated in the Union Budget to give fundamental rights to slum dwellers. It included the Rajiv Awas Yojana, which was granted Rs. 150 crores.

Aim of the Rajiv Awas Yojana 

The Rajiv Awas Yojana aims to provide low-cost housing facilities. This scheme was launched with a few changes in the policies.

• Bringing reformations to tackle the problem of slums.
• Informing the slum people about the scheme and the basic amenities provided through this scheme.
• Inspiring them to participate in this scheme wholeheartedly.
• Creation of a very supportive environment.

Operating Guidelines of the Rajiv Awas Yojana

• Preparation

The Slum Free City Plan of Action was centred on bringing in the investment and upgradation of slums in urban areas for the next 10-15 years. 

• The first part was a curative strategy that included the reorganisation of slums and their redevelopment. 
• The second part was the Prevention of Future Slums, which included strategy plans to get them their preferred accommodation.

• Social Audits

A social audit is the participatory assessment of a program or a scheme. The success rate in the records will be compared with the ground reality. It holds the Government accountable for the facilities and housing accommodation the slum people were promised versus what they received.

• Slum-Free City

Slum free city means rehabilitating the citizens of a city living in slums to better accommodations. It includes making pucca houses and shifting the slum population to better housing.

• Capacity Building

Building the capacity of a citizen is a crucial part of the Rajiv Awas Yojana. It involves figuring out an individual’s skills to help them earn money for themselves and their families.

• Reforms

Reform can refer to improvement or amendment of the society to minimise corruption. Also, it enables a fair and honest society where one can live without fear of ill practice.

Stages of the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana 2019

The Central Government’s proposal states that affordable accommodation will be devised under the Rajiv Awas Yojana. This scheme was launched back in 2011 and was divided into two phases. 

One was the preparatory phase, which was completed by 2013. The second was the implementation phase. It was sanctioned by the Central Government to take place between 2013 and 2022.

It has the following two stages of execution stages:

1. Creation of a slum-free city plan of action
2. Preparation of accommodation projects for the chosen slums

The scheme also lends its support to the JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal Mission) states to assign property rights in slum areas. 

Features and Benefits of the Rajiv Awas Yojana

The benefits of the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana 2019 are discussed as follows:

• It provides financial assistance to Government agencies who are helping with the program’s implementation.
• The Rajiv Awas Yojana offers financial aid for the creation of housing complexes.
• Under Affordable Housing in Partnership, the Central Government gives monetary support of Rs. 75,000 each. These funds are given to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) for housing units of 21 to 40 sq. mt.
• The scheme aims to provide civic facilities, such as water supply, electric supply, sewage systems, and streetlights.
• The Rajiv Awas Yojana also has the scope of giving employment and increasing the salary potential of people living in slums. It aims to offer skill development classes to eradicate the poverty conditions of the slums.

Types of Schemes 

There are no types of schemes under the Rajiv Awas Yojana. But, according to the funding patterns, it can be categorised into the following:

• Candidates dwelling in urban city clumps with a population of 5 lacs or above.
• Candidates dwelling in urban city clumps with a population of 5 lacs or below.
• Candidates dwelling in urban city clusters in special regions, such as Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Eligibility Criteria for the Scheme

The eligibility criteria are mentioned as follows:

• People who fall under the above criteria are all eligible for the scheme.  
• Renting and housing are also available. 
• The project size should be a minimum of 250 dwelling units to be eligible for the Affordable Housing Complex.
• The Rajiv Awas Yojana is also applicable on slums which are not registered or non-notified. The land under those slums may be under the Government or any other autonomous body.

Conclusion

The President of India announced the Rajiv Awas Yojana in 2009. It focused on giving property rights to the slum dwellers and urban poor. Overall, the purpose of Rajiv Awas Yojana is to eradicate slums and ensure the betterment of slum dwellers.

This article covers the scheme guidelines, which describe the scope, coverage, implementation program, and structure of the Rajiv Awas Yojana.