<p> In a major departure from the housing policy for the poor, the State government has given the green signal for the poor and those from the SC/ST communities to construct houses on their agriculture land by availing benefits like loan and subsidy under different housing schemes of the State and Central governments. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The decision has been taken in view of the severe constraints in villages for the construction of houses. The beneficiaries need not seek permission for change of land use or fulfil any other legal requirement for the conversion of a portion of their farm land from agriculture to non-agriculture purpose, for construction of houses.<br /><br />According to highly placed sources, the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation - which had difficulty in finding suitable land in villages for the formation of housing sites - had recommended that the government allow those having own agriculture land to construct a house on it with government assistance. <br /><br />At present, those having own housing sites or government-allotted sites are eligible to avail benefits under different housing schemes such as Basava Housing Scheme, Rural Housing Ambedkar Scheme, etc; and the Centrally-sponsored Indira Awas Yojana. <br /><br />Deprived of scheme<br /><br />But for other siteless and houseless people in rural areas, construction of houses had become a big problem and they had been deprived of the housing scheme benefits. <br /><br />Whatever land is available in and around villages is being used by different departments and no government or private land is available for formation of sites, let alone construction of houses.<br /><br />Considering the severe problem of non-availability of open land in villages for housing, the government has issued an order to extend the benefits of the housing schemes to beneficiaries who volunteer to construct their houses on agriculture land. <br /><br />The Panchayat Development Officer of the Gram Panchayat has been empowered to declare a small portion of the farm land as ‘site for construction of house under government scheme’ and issue necessary certificate to the beneficiary.<br /><br />Official sources said only two guntas of farm land will be allowed for construction of houses and the area of construction should not cross 1,200 sq ft. The beneficiary can also pledge his housing site with banks for availing housing loan. <br /><br />The housing corporation or the government departments can immediately extend housing subsidy to such beneficiaries, if they pay their contribution. <br /><br />However, the beneficiaries must give an undertaking that they will not sell the house to anyone for 15 years.<br /><br />The siteless/houseless poor in villages and having farm land in the same village are eligible to avail the housing scheme benefits with immediate effect, sources said.<br /><br />=</p>
<p> In a major departure from the housing policy for the poor, the State government has given the green signal for the poor and those from the SC/ST communities to construct houses on their agriculture land by availing benefits like loan and subsidy under different housing schemes of the State and Central governments. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The decision has been taken in view of the severe constraints in villages for the construction of houses. The beneficiaries need not seek permission for change of land use or fulfil any other legal requirement for the conversion of a portion of their farm land from agriculture to non-agriculture purpose, for construction of houses.<br /><br />According to highly placed sources, the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation - which had difficulty in finding suitable land in villages for the formation of housing sites - had recommended that the government allow those having own agriculture land to construct a house on it with government assistance. <br /><br />At present, those having own housing sites or government-allotted sites are eligible to avail benefits under different housing schemes such as Basava Housing Scheme, Rural Housing Ambedkar Scheme, etc; and the Centrally-sponsored Indira Awas Yojana. <br /><br />Deprived of scheme<br /><br />But for other siteless and houseless people in rural areas, construction of houses had become a big problem and they had been deprived of the housing scheme benefits. <br /><br />Whatever land is available in and around villages is being used by different departments and no government or private land is available for formation of sites, let alone construction of houses.<br /><br />Considering the severe problem of non-availability of open land in villages for housing, the government has issued an order to extend the benefits of the housing schemes to beneficiaries who volunteer to construct their houses on agriculture land. <br /><br />The Panchayat Development Officer of the Gram Panchayat has been empowered to declare a small portion of the farm land as ‘site for construction of house under government scheme’ and issue necessary certificate to the beneficiary.<br /><br />Official sources said only two guntas of farm land will be allowed for construction of houses and the area of construction should not cross 1,200 sq ft. The beneficiary can also pledge his housing site with banks for availing housing loan. <br /><br />The housing corporation or the government departments can immediately extend housing subsidy to such beneficiaries, if they pay their contribution. <br /><br />However, the beneficiaries must give an undertaking that they will not sell the house to anyone for 15 years.<br /><br />The siteless/houseless poor in villages and having farm land in the same village are eligible to avail the housing scheme benefits with immediate effect, sources said.<br /><br />=</p>
