Question : RURAL HOUSING KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

(a) whether the Government is implementing any scheme called Rural Housing Knowledge Network (RHKN) in the country;

(b) if so, the details including the salient features thereof;

(c) whether the Government has any data regarding the number of interactive sessions conducted under RHKN in various States including Kerala for disseminating new knowledge on cost-effective housing technologies;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has any record regarding the number of beneficiaries under the RHKN in the country; and

(f) if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI LALCHAND KATARIA)

(a) & (b) There is no such scheme. However,a Project named Rural Housing Knowledge Network (RHKN) has been in operation since July, 2012 for building an updatable repository of knowledge in the rural housing sector in collaboration with IIT, Delhi. RHKN is a web based knowledge repository comprising of technology solutions for rural housing, directory of practitioners, experiences of practitioners, case studies, technical publications, technology demonstrations in multi-media format and several other sources of information of use to aspiring home owners as well as practitioners of rural housing. It is a platform for various stakeholders in rural housing – rural families, masons, small scale building entrepreneurs,panchayats, block and district administration, state and central government officials, voluntary organizations, architects, civil engineers, and financial institutions.

(c) & (d) Yes,Madam. So far, 13 interactive sessions have been conducted in various States including Kerala. A statement showing the details is at Annexure-I.

(e) & (f) Connecting with beneficiaries is not a part of the project deliverables. However, whenever there is a request from State Governments, the RHKN project is making efforts to conduct an event called “GrameenAwaas - SawaalJawaabEvamSamvaad” in which IAY beneficiaries, block development officers, DRDA Officials and District Collectors are invited. Technology Demonstration and answers to beneficiaries’ queries are provided by the RHKN Team.