Women must be co-owners in govt's affordable houses : The Times of India

New Delhi:



Move Aimed At Empowering Poor Women

In a move towards financial empowerment of women from economically eaker sections (EWS) and lower income groups (LIG), government has made a mandatory provision of making the mother or wife to either be sole or coowner of flats along with the beneficiary under the affordable housing scheme. Their names have to be included during registration under the affordable housing scheme.

This provision will be introduced in the government's flagship “Housing for All“ scheme, which is being named as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMA Y). Government proposes o build 2 crore houses for the poor in the next seven years.Sources said that since this scheme will come as a big help to vulnerable sections, enough provisions have been incorporated including guidelines for disabled and aged people getting preference for ground floor or ower floor flats during allotment. TOI had earlier reported how preference in allotment of lats will also be extended to oth er vulnerable sections of society including transgenders, widows and SCSTs.

Beneficiary is defined as a family comprising of husband, wife, unmarried sons and daughters.

“The provision of ownership of a flat to women has been included so that they have a greater say in the domestic affairs. Several states have taken initiatives such as reduction in stamp duty and electricity bills if the house is registered in the name of a women,“ said an official. PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to launch the housing, Smart Cities and urban rejuvenation programme named after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee -AMRUT -on Thursday . Sources said that under AMRUT and Smart Cities, special focus will be on creating green and open spaces to cater to the needs of children and elderly.

Meanwhile, racing against time to build huge number of houses, the housing ministry is looking at maximizing the use of new technology for quicker construction at large scale. It has invited applications from expert agencies and organizations for their empanelment. The ministry has said that the new technology shall have to fulfill the mandatory requirements including structural safety , fire safety, resistance against water and moisture penetration.