No Proposal To Hike Central Assistance Of Any Category, Including ST: Govt Tells Rajya Sabha

There is no such proposal to increase the quantum of central Assistance for any category of beneficiaries, including scheduled tribes and backward classes, said Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Kaushal Kishore in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

He said that Centre is providing Rs 1.0 lakh under In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR), Rs 1.5 lakh for Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) and Beneficiary Led Individual Construction or Enhancement (BLC) verticals of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U). 

 The minister added that under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS), an interest subsidy at the rate of 6.5 per cent which amounts upto Rs 2.67 lakh per house is provided for beneficiaries of economically weaker sections (EWS) and lower income groups (LIG) category. 

The remaining cost of the house as per DPR is shared by states/UTs/ULBs/beneficiaries. 

The minister also said that from 2014-15 till 30 November 2022, more than 13 lakh urban poor have been imparted skill training to enhance their employability, out of which more than 6.78 lakh skill trained have been placed under self and wage employment. 

He said, "Loans with the provision of interest subvention have been disbursed to more than 7.8 lakh beneficiaries for self-employment through individual or group micro-enterprises."

Kishore further said that more than 7.8 lakh self-help groups have been formed, over 5.36 lakh SHGs have been assisted with revolving fund and 7.17 lakh loans have been disbursed under SHG bank linkage programme for taking up activities for improving incomes.