Online applications for a flagship scheme that aims to bring more people under the ambit of the Narendra Modi government’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), began today.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was today signed between Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) Ministry and Common Services Centre e-Governance Services India Ltd (CSC) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in presence of Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Ravi Shankar Prasad.
“The purpose of the initiative is that the services of the government reach the people without any deviation or dilution or leakage,” Naidu said, adding that the direct online application submission will enable the concerned authorities to take note and attend faster to the beneficiaries’ request.
Here are the key highlights of the scheme:
- The service will be available through about 60,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs) located in urban areas.
- Application form will be available at a nominal cost Rs 25 each.
- Applicants filling the forms at the CSCs will be provided with an acknowledgement receipt.
- The receipt will carry a photograph of the applicant and will also help him/her know the status of the application.
- Aadhar Card is mandatory to apply for the scheme. Those without Aadhar Card can apply only after the procedure of verification is completed.
Naidu said that while 13.70 lakh urban poor were sanctioned affordable houses during 2005-14, about 11 lakh houses have been already sanctioned for urban poor during the last one year and this will pick up further momentum through online applications.
Prasad said that CSCs are the front end soldiers of Digital India Mission and are engaged in empowering different sections of the society through skilling and online delivery of services.
The MoU was signed by Amrit Abhijat, Joint Secretary, Ministry of HUPA and Dinesh Tyagi, CEO, CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.
A similar MoU is also signed with Urban Development Ministry for helping beneficiaries apply online for construction of toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission in urban areas.
