Question : CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES UNDER IAY

(a) the assistance being provided by the Government for construction of houses in different desert areas of Rajasthan under Indira AwaasYojana (IAY);

(b) whether the Government is considering to include construction work under Indira Awaas Yojana with funds from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to remove gap between the actual cost of dwelling units and the assistance provided by the Government; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI BIRENDER SINGH)

(a): Assistance under IAY for construction of houses for rural BPL beneficiaries is given at the rate of Rs.70,000 per unit in plain areas of the country including Rajasthan.

(b)& (c): The Ministry of Rural Development has carried out amendment in Schedule –I, at Para 4(1) II (iv), of MGNREGA, vide Notification dated 3rd January, 2014 that “Unskilled wage com- ponent in construction of houses sanctioned under the Indira AwaasYojana or such other State or Central Government Scheme” can be covered under MGNREGS in creation of individual assets of vulnerable sections. The objective is to compensate the beneficiary for the foregone wage employment and thereby monetize the hitherto unaccounted unskilled wage component of the construction of house under IAY or such other State or Central Government Scheme within the ambit of MGNREGA, so that durable assets are built under MGNREGS; and quality of the houses is improved, enhancing the quality of life of rural poor.

Accordingly guidelines for taking up unskilled wage component under MGNREGA in construction of houses sanctioned under IAY or such other State or Central Government Scheme have been issued in June, 2014. As per the guidelines, the total number of unskilled persondays required for construction of a house of at least 20 sqmts. as per IAY guidelines is fixed at 95 persondays for north-east and hilly regions; and 90 persons- days for other areas. The wages for these person- days in lieu of foregone wage employment by the beneficiaries can be paid under MGNREGA over and above the unit cost fixed for IAY/other housing schemes.