West Bengal gets Rs 193.56 cr for rural housing

Kolkata, May 24 (UNI) West Bengal has been allocated Rs 193.56 crore from the Centre under Indira Awas Yojana(IAY) to construct rural dwellings.

The amount was released to the state government in March 2006.

The total allocation of the state for 2005-06 was Rs 195.18 crore.

The state constructed 88697 dwelling units during the last fiscal under the national scheme against the total target of 104098.

IAY is a rural poverty alleviation in rural under the Bharat Nirman Programme, which addresses housing shortage.

In 2005-06 at least 14.41 lakh houses were constructed under the programme and another 60 lakh houses would be constructed in next four years across the country.

The 2001 census placed rural housing shortage figures at 148 lakhs. The Union Ministry of Rural Development, through IAY, undertake housing to rural poor as a centrally sponsored scheme where the cost is shared between the Centre and States on a 75:25 basis.

The Planning Commission for state-level allocations give 75 per cent weightage to housing shortage and 25 per cent weightage to the poverty ratios prescribed.

Under IAY, the house allotment is made, significantly, in the name of the female members of the family.

While seeking to empower the rural women, the scheme also provide a quota for physically and mentally challenged persons, ex-servicemen, and widows and freed bonded labourers.

UNI JYN KK AKP1805