Akshay Azad
Jammu, Jan 31: Contrary to eloquent speeches of coalition partners in all public rallies, appealing poor masses to avail benefits of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) meant for providing housing to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, has shown chronically dismal performance for the ongoing financial year, as 68 percent applications are still pending for sanction. Most shockingly, in the list of 16 districts, nine districts have shown 100 percent pendency of cases.
Sources informed Early Times that a total of 3436 applicants were registered in the Management Information System (MIS) across 16 districts of State under IAY scheme for the financial year 2013-14, for construction of new houses.
"Out of 3436 applications, only 1115 (32 %) houses were sanctioned under IAY scheme but a sizeable number that was 2321 applicants (68%) are still pending for sanction of houses", sources said.
They further said that the 16 districts had set the annual target of 13493 cases for financial year 2013-14 but only 3436 cases were registered in MIS system including Anantnag (52), Budgam (186), Bandipora (27), Baramulla (34), Jammu (1218), Kathua (112), Kishtwar (285), Kupwara (2), Leh (Ladakh) (21), Poonch (909), Pulwama (2), Rajouri (162), Ramban (26), Reasi (390), Samba (117) and Udhampur (411) cases.
Astoundingly, sources said, not a single house is sanctioned in nine out of total 16 districts and all cases are pending for sanction.
"These nine district are Anantnag (52 cases pending), Bandipora (27), Kathua (112), Leh (Ladakh) (21), Rajouri (162), Ramban (26), Reasi (390), Samba (117) and Udhampur (411) cases", sources said.
They further said that out of 186 cases registered in district Budgam only one house was sanctioned while 185 remained pending for sanction. Out of 285 cases registered in district Kishtwar only 50 houses were sanctioned, while 235 are pending. In district Poonch 391 cases were registered but only 135 houses were sanctioned and 256 remains pending.
Jammu and Baramulla districts show some good performance wherein 1218 cases were registered in Jammu district out of which 894 houses were sanctioned and 324 remains pending while in district Baramulla 34 cases were registered and 33 houses were sanctioned with pendency of only one case, sources said.
Pertinently, the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) is a major flagship programme of the Rural Development Ministry of Government of India for construction of houses for BPL population in the villages. Under the IAY, financial assistance is provided for construction, up-gradation of such houses. The scheme, operational since 1985, provides either subsidies or cash-assistances to the eligible rural households to construct 'pucca', sanitary latrine and smokeless chullah inclusive houses.
The primary target group of the IAY includes SC/ST, freed bonded-labourers, minorities and non SC/ST rural households that fall in the BPL category besides other eligibility classifications. IAY is an allocation based, Centrally Sponsored Scheme funded on a cost-sharing basis between the Central Government and the State Government in the 75% to 25% Ratio. |
