Housing-for-All: States to be involved in planning,

For smooth implementation of the ambitious 'Housing-for-All' scheme, the Centre has proposed to decentralise the process by involving state governments in the planning and decision-making process.
"Empowering states is the key to the success of Housing- for-All scheme," Joint Secretary in the Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry Rajiv Ranjan Mishra said at a conference organised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
About two crore houses are to be built under the Housing- for-All scheme in urban areas by 2022. Five-hundred cities and towns are to be taken up in the first phase of the scheme.
Among other measures, the government is also set to introduce global standards for building and construction process, and facilitate easier documentation and approval procedures for projects falling under the scheme.

"Skill upgradation will play a key role and the government, along with the private sector, will work to train and upgrade skills in real estate and construction sector," Mishra added.
Under the Housing-for-All (Urban) Mission, the central assistance of Rs 1 lakh per unit under in-situ redevelopment of slums, Rs 1.50 lakh per unit under Affordable Housing in Partnership and Subsidy for Individual Beneficiary led Construction, and interest subsidy of 6.50 per cent under Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme will be provided.

As per the plan, 30 lakh houses need to be built every year till 2022 to meet the target.

The Centre has asked the states to ensure signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the HUPA Ministry regarding implementation of mandatory reforms and selection of cities for taking up housing projects by the end of this month.
"There is a huge mismatch of housing demand and supply in India. India is looking at building homes under affordable housing to cater to this demand. We believe the government along with the private sector should follow international best practices for construction of these houses under the scheme to maintain good construction quality and ensure timely completion of such projects," Sachin Sandhir, Global MD, Emerging Business, RICS said.

The HUPA Ministry is likely to hold a meeting with the Environment Ministry next week to discuss ways to expedite clearances to housing projects under this scheme.