Indira awas yojana housing scheme renamed as PMAY

Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) played a significant role in addressing rural housing needs in India. It emerged as a comprehensive program for affordable housing solutions in rural areas, predating the government’s broader focus on mass housing initiatives.

1. IAYIndiraAwasYojana:Housing
schemerenamedasPMAY·
Launchedin1985,theIndiraAwasYojana(IAY)playeda
significantroleinaddressingruralhousingneedsinIndia.It
emergedasacomprehensiveprogramforaffordablehousing

2. solutionsinruralareas,predatingthegovernment’sbroader
focusonmasshousinginitiatives.
KeyFeaturesofIAY:
●TargetedAssistance:IAYprioritizedproviding
permanenthousingforthemostvulnerable
populations,includingScheduledCastes(SCs),
ScheduledTribes(STs),andothereconomically
disadvantagedgroups.
●FocusonAffordability:Theprogramaimedtomake
housingaccessibleforthosefacingfinancialhardshipin
ruralcommunities.
LegacyofIAY:
WhileIAYisnolongeraseparatescheme,itscoreobjectiveof
supportingruralhousingforunderprivilegedgroupscontinues

3. underthePradhanMantriAwasYojana(PMAY)program,
particularlythePMAY-Gramin(Rural)sub-scheme.PMAY
buildsuponthefoundationlaidbyIAY,deliveringtargeted
assistanceinamorefocusedmanner.
TheIndiraAwasYojana(IAY)playedapioneeringrolein
providingaffordablehousingsolutionsinruralIndia.Launched
in1985,itaimedtoaddressthehousingneedsofthemost
economicallydisadvantagedsectionsofsociety.
Initially,IAYfunctionedasasub-schemeundertheRural
LandlessEmploymentGuaranteeProgramme(RLEGP).It
prioritizedfamiliesclassifiedasBelowPovertyLine(BPL)and
thosefacingeconomichardship.
EvolutionofIAY:

4. ●1989:IAYbecameasub-schemeoftheJawaharRozgar
Yojana(JRY).
●Early1990s:Theprograminitiallyfocusedon
reservedcategorieslikeScheduledCastes(SCs),
ScheduledTribes(STs),andOtherBackwardClasses
(OBCs).
●1993–1994:IAYwasexpandedtoinclude
non-reservedcategories,broadeningitsreachtomore
underprivilegedfamilies.
●1996:Theschemeextendedbenefitstospousesand
wardsofdefenseandparamilitarypersonnelkilledin
action,aswellasex-servicemenandretiredpersonnel
fromtheforces.
PMAY-Gramin TakesOver:

5. ThePradhanMantriAwasYojana—Gramin(PMAY-G)
program,launchedin2016,subsumedIAY.WhileIAYisno
longeraseparatescheme,PMAY-Gcontinuesitscoreobjective
ofprovidingpermanenthousingsolutionsforeconomically
vulnerablefamiliesinruralareas.
UnderstandingIAY’sObjectives:
TheIAYprogramfocusesonthreecoreobjectives:
●ImprovedHousing:IAYprioritizesprovidingpucca
housestofamilieslivinginkuchcha(makeshift)
dwellings,significantlyenhancingtheirlivingstandards
andofferingprotectionfromharshweatherconditions.
●SocialUpliftment:Byensuringaccesstosafeand
securehousing,IAYempowerswomenbyproviding

6. themwithasenseofownershipandcontrolovertheir
livingspace.
●PovertyAlleviation:Thefinancialassistance
providedunderIAYactsasacatalystforpoverty
alleviationinruralareas.Owningapuccahousereduces
livingexpensesandfreesupresourcesforother
householdneeds.
ApplicationProcessforIAY:
TheapplicationprocessforIAYtypicallyinvolvesthesesteps:
1.GramPanchayat:Interestedfamiliescanapproach
theirrespectiveGramPanchayat(villagecouncil)and
expresstheirinterestinthescheme.

7. 2.VerificationandSelection:TheGramPanchayat
officialswillverifytheapplicant’seligibilitybasedon
establishedcriteriaandprepareaprioritylist.
3.SanctioningofFunds:Onceshortlisted,theselected
familieswillreceiveasanctionletterfortheapproved
amount.
4.ConstructionandMonitoring:Theconstruction
processismonitoredbytheGramPanchayattoensure
adherencetoqualitystandards.
BenefitsofIAY:
TheIAYprogramoffersarangeofbenefitsforeligiblefamilies:
●FinancialAssistance:Thegovernmentprovidesa
specificamount(subjecttochange)tocoverthecostof
constructingapuccahouse.

8. ●ImprovedLivingConditions:Owningapucca
houseprovidesbettercomfort,hygiene,andprotection
fromtheelements.
●EnhancedSocialStatus:Apuccahousesymbolizes
ownershipandcontributestoasenseofsecurityand
well-beingwithinthefamily.
●Empowerment ofWomen:Securehousing
empowerswomenwithinthehouseholdand
strengthenstheirdecision-makingpower.
ChallengesandFutureDirections:
TheIAYprogramhasfacedchallengeslikedelaysinfund
disbursement,ensuringqualityconstruction,andreachingthe
mostmarginalizedcommunities.However,thegovernmentis
constantlyworkingtoimprovetheprogram’sefficiencyand
effectiveness.Herearesomepotentialfuturedirections:

9. ●IncreasedAllocation:Increasedfinancialallocation
fromthegovernmentcouldbenefitmorefamiliesin
need.
●TechnologicalAdvancements:Leveraging
technologyforonlineapplicationsandmonitoring
constructioncouldenhancetransparencyandefficiency.
●FocusonSustainability:Integratingsustainable
constructionpracticescouldpromote
environment-friendlyhousingsolutions.
EligibilityCriteriaforIndiraAwasYojana
(PreviouslyKnownasIAY)
TheIndiraAwasYojana(IAY),nowpartofthePradhanMantri
AwasYojana(PMAY),wasdesignedtoprioritizeproviding
permanenthousingsolutionsforthosefacingeconomichardship
inruralIndia.

10. Here’sabreakdownoftheprimarygroupswhowereeligiblefor
assistanceunderIAY:
●BelowPovertyLine(BPL)Households:Families
categorizedasBelowPovertyLinereceivedtoppriority
forIAYbenefits.
●SociallyandEconomicallyDisadvantaged:
Individualsandfamiliesfacingsocialandeconomic
disadvantageswerealsoconsidered.
●VulnerableGroups:Specificvulnerablegroups,
including:
●ScheduledCastes(SCs)andScheduledTribes
(STs):Thesecommunitiesoftenfacesocialand
economicchallenges,makingthemapriority.
●Ex-servicemen:VeteranswhoservedintheIndian
ArmedForceswereeligibleforIAYbenefits.

11. ●FreedBondedLabourers:Individualsrescuedfrom
bondedlaborwereconsideredforassistancetohelp
themrebuildtheirlives.
●WidowsorNextofKinofArmedForces
PersonnelKilledinAction:Thesefamilieswere
eligibleforsupportduetothesacrificesmadebytheir
lovedones.
DocumentsRequiredforApplyingtoIAY(Indira
AwasYojana)
TheIndiraAwasYojanaapplicationprocesstypicallyrequires
thesedocuments:
ProofofIdentity:
●RationCard:Thisservesasaprimarydocumentfor
identificationpurposeswithinthevillagecommunity.

12. ●AadhaarCard(ifavailable):TheAadhaarcard,a
uniqueidentificationnumberissuedbytheIndian
government,canfurtherstrengthenyourapplication.
ResidenceProof:
●ResidenceCertificateIssuedbyGram
Panchayat:TheGramPanchayatcanissueanofficial
residencecertificateverifyingtheapplicantfamily’s
residencewithinthevillage.
ProofofBelowPovertyLine(BPL)Status:
●IncomeCertificate:Anofficialdocumentissuedby
competentauthoritiescertifyingthefamily’sincome
andBPLstatusismandatory.

13. ●LandOwnershipRecords(ifapplicable):Ifthe
familyownsanyland,documentslikelandpatta(land
ownershipcertificate)mightberequired.
ProofofNoPuccaHouseOwnership:
●Self-Declaration:Insomecases,awrittendeclaration
statingthefamily’slackofapuccahousemightbe
sufficient.
●GramPanchayatVerification:TheGramPanchayat
officialsmightphysicallyverifytheapplicant’sexisting
dwellingtoconfirmtheabsenceofapuccahouse.
AdditionalDocuments(mayvary):

14. ●CasteCertificate(ifapplicable):Forfamilies
belongingtoSC,ST,orOtherBackwardClasses(OBC),
acastecertificatecanbehelpful.
●DisabilityCertificate(ifapplicable):Ifafamily
memberhasadisability,adisabilitycertificatecanbe
submittedforadditionalconsideration.
ObtainingtheDocuments:
Mostdocumentscanbeobtainedfromlocalgovernmentoffices
likethePanchayatoffice,tehsildar’soffice,ortherevenue
department.RationcardsandAadhaarcardsmightrequire
separateapplicationprocesses.
Byhavingallthenecessarydocumentsprepared,youcan
streamlinetheapplicationprocessforIAYandincreaseyour
chancesofreceivingassistanceforconstructingapuccahouse.

15. AY(IndiraAwasYojana)PriorityList
TheIndiraAwasYojanaprioritizesprovidingpermanenthousing
tothemostvulnerablefamiliesinruralIndia.Here’sa
breakdownofthetypicalprioritylistfollowedduringapplicant
selection:
TopPriority:
●FreedBondedLabourers:Individualsandfamilies
whohavebeenrescuedfrombondedlaborareatthetop
oftheprioritylist.Theyoftenlackproperhousingand
requireimmediatesupportforasecureliving
environment.
●SC/STHouseholdsFacingAtrocities:Households
belongingtoScheduledCastes(SC)orScheduledTribes

16. (ST)whohavefacedviolenceordiscriminationare
prioritizedduetotheirspecificvulnerabilities.
●SC/STHouseholdsHeadedbyWidowsor
UnmarriedWomen:Female-headedhouseholds
withinSC/STcommunitiesoftenfacesocialand
economicchallenges.IAYprioritizesprovidingthem
withsecurehousingforimprovedwell-being.
●SC/STHouseholdsAffectedbyNatural
Disasters:FamiliesbelongingtoSC/STcommunities
whohavelosttheirhomesduetonaturaldisasterslike
floods,earthquakes,orcyclonesreceivehighpriorityfor
rebuildingtheirliveswithproperhousing.
HighPriority:
●OtherSC/STHouseholds:FamiliesfromSC/ST
communitiesbelowthepovertylineareconsiderednext

17. intheprioritylist,aimingtobridgethehousinggap
withinthesemarginalizedgroups.
GeneralPriority:
●Non-SC/STHouseholdsBelowPovertyLine:
Whilenotthetoppriority,otherBPLfamiliesinrural
areasarealsoeligibleforIAYbenefits.However,a
specificquota(usuallyaround40%)isallocatedfor
themwithintheoverallIAYbudget.
AdditionalConsiderations:
●Disability:Householdswithdisabledmembersmight
receiveadditionalweightageduringselectiondueto
theirspecificneedsandchallenges.

18. ●InternalDisplacement:Familiesdisplaceddueto
developmentalprojectsorinternalconflictscanalsobe
considered,dependingontheavailabilityoffunds.
SelectionProcess:
TheGramPanchayat(villagecouncil)playsacrucialrolein
verifyingapplicanteligibilityandpreparingtheprioritylist.They
considertheaforementionedcriteria,alongwithanyspecific
stateorlocalgovernmentguidelines,toensurethemost
deservingfamiliesbenefitfromtheprogram.
It’simportanttonotethattheprioritylistmightvary
slightlydependingonyourstateandthespecific
allocationoffunds

19. TheIndiraAwasYojana(IAY)programdoesn’tdirectly
undertakespecificprojectsitself.Itfunctionsasafinancial
assistanceschemethatempowersruralfamiliestoconstruct
theirownpuccahouses.However,theprogramprioritizes
beneficiariesbasedontheirneedsandvulnerabilities.Here’sa
breakdownofthetargetbeneficiariesandthetypeofhousing
solutionsIAYaimstosupport:
TargetBeneficiaries:
●FreedBondedLabourers:Individualsandfamilies
whohavebeenrescuedfrombondedlaborareatop
priority.IAYempowersthemtobuildsecureand
independentlivesbyprovidingfinancialassistancefor
constructingpuccahouses.
●HouseholdsBelowPovertyLine(BPL):Thecore
beneficiariesofIAYareruralfamilieslivinginpoverty

20. wholackproperhousing.Thisincludesfamilies
belongingtoScheduledCastes(SC),ScheduledTribes
(ST),andOtherBackwardClasses(OBC),aswellas
otherunderprivilegedcommunities.
●VulnerableGroups:IAYprioritizesfamiliesfacing
specificvulnerabilities,including:
●Female-headedhouseholds(widowsor
unmarriedwomen):Providingsecurehousing
empowerswomenwithinthefamilyandstrengthens
theirdecision-makingpower.
●Householdsaffectedbynaturaldisasters:
Familieswhohavelosttheirhomesduetofloods,
earthquakes,orcyclonesreceiveassistancetorebuild
theirlives.
●Householdswithdisabledmembers:These
familiesmightrequireadditionalsupportfor

21. constructingapuccahousethatcaterstothespecific
needsofthedisabledindividual.
TypeofHousingSolutions:
IAYdoesn’tdictatespecifichousedesigns.However,thefinancial
assistanceprovidedisintendedforconstructingapuccahouse
thatmeetscertainbasiccriteria:
●Durability:Thehouseshouldbeconstructedwith
permanentmaterialslikebricks,concrete,orstoneto
offerprotectionfromharshweatherconditionsand
ensurelong-termuse.
●BasicAmenities:Thehouseshouldideallyhavea
roof,walls,andausablefloorspacetoprovidebasic
shelterandlivingcomfort.

22. ●SanitationFacilities:WhileIAYdoesn’tdirectly
addresssanitation,promotingtheconstructionoftoilets
alongsidepuccahousesisoftenencouragedtoimprove
overallhygieneandlivingstandards.
AdditionalConsiderations:
●LandOwnership:Thebeneficiaryfamilyshould
ideallyhaveownershiporaccesstolandfor
constructingthehouse.
●Sustainability:Insomecases,IAYmightpromotethe
useoflocallyavailableandsustainableconstruction
materialstoreduceenvironmentalimpact.
ImpactofIAY:
TheIAYprogramhassignificantlycontributedto:

23. ●ReducedHousingShortage:Byprovidingfinancial
assistanceforpuccahouseconstruction,IAYhashelped
bridgetheruralhousinggap.
●ImprovedLivingConditions:Puccahousesoffer
betterprotectionfromtheelements,improvedhygiene,
andamoresecurelivingenvironmentforfamilies.
●Empowerment ofWomen:Securehousing
ownershipstrengthenswomen’sdecision-makingpower
withinthehousehold.
●PovertyAlleviation:Owningapuccahousereduces
livingexpensesandfreesupresourcesforother
householdneeds.
IAYReports:TrackingProgressand
Transparency:
GovernmentWebsites:

24. ●MinistryofRuralDevelopment:Theofficial
websiteoftheMinistryofRuralDevelopment
(MoRD),thenodalministryforIAY,isagoodstarting
point.LookforsectionsdedicatedtoIAYreportsor
publications.Thesereportsmightprovidenational-level
dataonfundallocation,beneficiaryselection,and
projectcompletionrates.
●StateGovernmentWebsites:Manystate
governmentshavededicatedwebsitesfortheirrural
developmentdepartments.Thesewebsitesmightoffer
state-specificIAYreportsdetailingprogresswithinthe
state,includingbeneficiarydemographicsandproject
timelines.
OnlineReportingPlatforms:

25. ●EFMS(ElectronicFundManagementSystem):
TheEFMSisagovernmentplatformthattracks
financialtransactionsrelatedtovariousschemes,
includingIAY.Whilenotdirectlyaccessibletothe
public,itallowsauthoritiestomonitorfund
disbursementandensureproperutilizationof
resources.(https://rhreporting.nic.in/netiay/EFMSRep
ort/FTOTransactionSummary.aspx)
FrequentlyAskedQuestions:
1.WhatwastheIndiraAwasYojana(IAY)?
TheIndiraAwasYojana(IAY),launchedin1985,wasacentral
governmentprogramthatprovidedfinancialassistancetorural
familiesforconstructingpucca(permanent)houses.Itaimedto

26. bridgethehousinggapforthemostunderprivilegedsectionsof
societyinruralIndia.
2.IstheIAYIndiraAwasyojanaschemediscontinued?
Yes,IAyorIndiraAwasYojanaissubsumedanditwas
incorporatedintothePradhanMantriAwasYojana(PMAY)in
April2017.
3.HowdoesPMAY-Gramin differfromIAY?
PMAY-GraminhasabroaderscopecomparedtoIAY.WhileIAY
focusedsolelyonruralhousing,PMAYencompassesbothrural
andurbanhousingneedsthroughvarioussub-schemestargeting
differentincomesegments.
4.WhattypeofhousingdidIAYsupport?

27. IAYdidn’tdictatespecifichousedesigns.However,thefinancial
assistanceprovidedwasintendedforconstructingapuccahouse
thatmeetsbasiccriteria:
Durability:Builtwithpermanentmaterialslikebricks,
concrete,orstoneforlong-termuseandprotectionfromharsh
weather.
BasicAmenities:Ideallywitharoof,walls,andausablefloor
spacetoprovidebasicshelterandlivingcomfort.
SanitationPromotion:WhileIAYdidn’tdirectlyaddress
sanitation,itsometimesencouragedconstructingtoilets
alongsidepuccahousesforimprovedhygiene.