With the vision of making India slum-free, the central government launched a scheme named Rajiv Awas Yojana.

Also known as Rajiv Housing Scheme, it is a Central sector scheme that aims to provide basic social amenities, basic shelter and civic infrastructure to every citizen.

Want to know more about it? Stay tuned!

Rajiv Awas Yojana scheme encourages every State and Union Territories to handle slums formally so that people of respective states and UTs can get the basic amenities.

Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana also aims to provide low-cost housing facilities to the urban poor. For this, they have started bringing essential changes in the concerned policies.

Further, this scheme has a definitive objective, which includes -

• Bringing reforms to address causes related to the creation of slums.
• Enhancing housing, civic structure, and social amenities in intervened slums.
• Empowering the community by assuring participation at every level of decision making during strengthening Slum Deweller’s Associations/Federation.
• Devise strategies for strengthening institutional and human resources at the city, state, and municipal levels by building a resource network.
• Creating a supportive environment for extending formal credit facilities to the urban poor.

Rajiv Awas Yojana Housing Scheme follows certain guidelines that broadly discuss the scope, coverage implementation approach, reforms, central assistance, monitoring mechanisms, administrative and implementation structure.

Apart from these, there are several operational guidelines issued to address various matters such as -

• Preparation
• Reforms
• Community Participation
• Social Audits
• Project Management
• Slum-free City Plan of Action
• Assurance Manual
• Capacity Building

The features and benefits of Rajiv Awas Yojana are discussed below -

• Rajiv Gandhi Housing Yojana follows 2 implementation strategies. These include preparation of a slum-free city of plan and preparation of projects for chosen slums.
• This scheme provides financial assistance to States/UTs/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/Central Government Agencies.
• Further, this scheme offers financial aid for creating affordable housing stock through public-private partnerships under the Affordable Housing in Partnership, a part of Rajiv Awas Yojana.
• Under Affordable Housing in Partnership, the Central Government provides financial support of ₹75,0000 per Economically Weaker Section/ Low Income Group for Dwelling Units of the size of 21 to 40 sq. mt.

Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana Scheme has no such separate type. However, as per the funding pattern, Rajiv Awas Yojana can be classified into three categories. This segregation of cities is done on the basis of population as per the 2011 census.

• A: Includes individuals living in cities or Urban Agglomeration with a population of 5 lakhs or above.
• B: Includes individuals living in cities or Urban Agglomeration with a population less than 5 lakh.
• C: Includes individuals living in cities or Urban Agglomeration in North Eastern Region and special category States (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand).

As per this, category A will get funding with an upper limit of ₹5 lakh. Similarly, category B will receive ₹ 4 lakh, and category C will get ₹5 lakh.

• All the beneficiaries mentioned in the previous section are eligible for this scheme.
• Rental and housing are also eligible under this scheme.
• Project size of a minimum of 250 dwelling units (DUs) is eligible for Affordable Housing in Partnership, a part of Rajiv Awas Yojana.

For any information related to Rajiv Awas Yojana, visit the official portal of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA) and click on the ‘Contact Us’ tab. Select ‘Telephone Directory’ from the drop-down list, and you will get the numbers of officials of particular divisions.

Now that you have a detailed idea about Rajiv Awas Yojana, its objectives, beneficiary eligibility, etc., you can easily apply for one. However, make sure to read the details and contact the officials by following the steps mentioned above to clarify further doubts.