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Context:

• In a recent announcement, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has unveiled plans to revamp the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), a flagship initiative aimed at providing affordable housing solutions for the urban poor.
• This decision comes after nine years of the scheme's operation, during which it has made significant strides in addressing the urban housing shortage across India.

READ ABOUT PMAY:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/pm-awas-yojana-32

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/pradhan-mantri-awas-yojana-pmay-28

Scheme Overview and Extension

Objective and Scope

• The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), launched in 2015, has been extended until December 2024.
• The primary goal remains unchanged: to ensure that every eligible urban household, including slum dwellers and middle-income groups, has access to a pucca house.

Focus of the Revamp

• The upcoming revamp of PMAY (Urban) is set to introduce new features aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the scheme.
• A key focus will be on addressing operational delays and improving the delivery mechanism to ensure that benefits reach the intended beneficiaries without unnecessary hurdles.

Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment

Objectives and Incentives

• Alongside the PMAY (Urban) revamp, the Ministry has also introduced a scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment aimed at bolstering the urban planning ecosystem.
• This initiative incentivizes states to adopt favorable policies and regulations conducive to affordable housing development.

Achievements and State Participation

• States such as Gujarat, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh have reported substantial progress under these schemes.
• Over the past few years, approximately 5,00,000 dwelling units have been constructed, leveraging the supportive policies and incentives provided by the central government.

Recent Developments and Results

Construction Milestones

• During the fiscal year 2023-2024 alone, states like Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Rajasthan collectively reported the construction of about 44,000 new dwelling units.
• This underscores the effective implementation and impact of the ongoing urban housing initiatives across diverse regions of the country.

Urban Planning Reforms

• In addition to housing construction milestones, there has been a notable emphasis on urban planning reforms, particularly in the realm of in-situ slum rehabilitation projects.
• States like Gujarat and Odisha have emerged as leaders in implementing these reforms, demonstrating significant progress in improving living conditions within urban slum areas.

Conclusion

• The initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs reflect a proactive approach towards addressing the complex challenges of urban housing in India.
• By leveraging past learnings and implementing strategic reforms, the government aims to further enhance the accessibility and quality of affordable housing for urban residents, thereby promoting inclusive growth and sustainable urban development nationwide.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.  Discuss the impact of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) on urban housing accessibility in India. Highlight its key achievements, challenges faced in implementation, and suggest measures to overcome these challenges.

SOURCE: THE HINDU