The "Abua Awas Yojna" (AAY) Housing Scheme is launched in Jharkhand.

The "Abua Awas Yojna" (AAY) Housing Scheme is launched in Jharkhand.

The "Abua Awas Yojna" (AAY), a housing initiative intended to give eight lakh pucca houses to the state's homeless population, was recently approved by the Jharkhand Cabinet. The scheme, which has a total budget of Rs 16,320 crore, will be implemented in three stages, with a goal of building 2.5 lakh homes in FY 2025–26, 3.5 lakh homes in FY 2024–25, and 2 lakh homes in the current fiscal year.

The Role of AAY

In Jharkhand, there are several housing schemes, such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Rural and Ambedkar Awas Yojna, but they haven't been able to accommodate all of the eligible beneficiaries. Concerns had been raised by Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam and Chief Minister Hemant Soren about the exclusion of about 8 lakh eligible beneficiaries from housing schemes because of inaccuracies and discrepancies in the identification process.

What AAY Offers

Beneficiaries of the "Abua Awas Yojna" scheme will get a 31 square meter, three-room house with a single kitchen. In its budget, the government has allotted Rs 2 lakh to each beneficiary, to be paid out in four installments. By contrast, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Rural program builds two-room, one-kitchen houses for beneficiaries at a cost of between Rs 1.2 and Rs 1.3 lakh.

AAY beneficiaries also have the option to work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and receive payment for up to 95 unskilled man-days at the going rate of pay. This money can be utilized for the construction of their homes. Additionally, a clause states that a toilet will be built into the house using money from the Swachh Bharat Mission or other available schemes.

Crucially, all homes constructed through AAY will be registered in the names of the benefiting women's families.

Suitable Recipients

Beneficiaries under AAY fall into the following categories:

l People who live in kutcha houses.

l People who are unsupervised or homeless.

l Members of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) will be given preference.

l families who have experienced natural disasters.

l Bonded laborers saved by the legal system.

l people who have not benefited from any previous housing initiatives.

l Exclusion Standards

l A person cannot participate in the program if they meet certain requirements, such as:

l possession of a fishing boat or four-wheeler.