Housing for all: Labour ministry ups subsidy, eases norms for beedi, mine workers

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Housing for All, labour ministry has raised the subsidy amount as well as relaxed norms to enable beedi and mine workers build houses under the ministry’s integrated housing scheme.

“For the new housing units, the subsidy shall be Rs 1.5 lakh and the revised rate shall be applicable from March 2, bringing it at par with financial package extended under the beneficiary-led individual house construction of enhancement scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana,” a notification said.

“The amount of subsidy shall be released in 25:60:15 slab, the beneficiary shall not be required to make any deposit as prerequisite of release, there shall be no ceiling on the estimated cost of the dwelling unit and no upper ceiling on the carpet area of constructed house,” it said.

Under the existing scheme, central assistance of Rs 40,000 is released for construction of new house in two equal instalments. However, the beneficiary was required to have his/her own land for such construction.

According to the notification, this revision in the housing scheme was required to meet the needs of large families and the rising cost of construction coupled with rising aspiration of working population.

“Besides, the government has decided to align all cess-fund supported schemes with the ongoing schemes in order to maintain a common benchmark and also to use the direct benefit transfer route for extending financial benefits and services,” the notifictaion added.