PRIME MINISTER AWAS YOJANA (URBAN)

IN NEWS:

• The Union Cabinet approved development of Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) for urban migrants and poor that will make housing available at affordable rent close to the place of work.
• Affordable Rental Housing Complexes is a sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban.

About PMAY-U

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Mission launched on 25th June 2015 which intends to provide housing for all in urban areas by year 2022.
• The Mission provides Central Assistance to the implementing agencies through States/Union Territories (UTs) and Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) for providing houses to all eligible families/ beneficiaries against the validated demand for houses for about 1.12 cr.
• As per PMAY(U) guidelines, the size of a house for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) could be upto 30 sq. mt. carpet area, however States/UTs have the flexibility to enhance the size of houses in consultation and approval of the Ministry.
• PMAY (U) has made a mandatory provision for the female head of the family to be the owner or co-owner of the house under this Mission.

About ARHC component:

• As part of ARHC, existing vacant government-funded housing complexes will be converted into Affordable Rental Housing Complexes through "concession agreements" for 25 years.
• The concessionaire will make the complexes livable by repair or retrofit and maintenance of rooms and filling up infrastructure gaps such as water, sewer, sanitation, road and related work.
• An expenditure of Rs 600 crore is estimated in the form of "technology innovation grant".
• States and union territories will select concessionaire through transparent bidding. Complexes will revert to the urban local bodies after 25 years to restart the next cycle like earlier, or run on their own.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (urban):

1. It has a mandatory provision for the female head of the family to be the owner or co-owner of the house.
2. It has provisions to create Affordable Rental Housing Complexes for migrant laborers in cities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims question