According to an official statement, the Haryana Cabinet approved the 'Mukhya Mantri Shehri Awas Yojana' on Friday, aiming to provide affordable housing to the economically weaker sections (EWS) of society. The decision was made during a state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. The scheme intends to offer housing facilities to poor families residing in urban areas who either do not possess their own house or currently live in 'kutcha houses'. Initially, the scheme targets providing housing to 1 lakh economically weaker families. Eligibility criteria include an annual family income of up to Rs 1.80 lakh as per the 'Parivar Pehchan Patra' and absence of ownership of a 'pucca' house in any urban area of Haryana. As per the statement, eligible families will receive a 30 square yard plot to construct their own 'pucca' houses. The state government, through the Department of Housing for All, will allocate the necessary land. The scheme will integrate with the beneficiary-led construction (BLC) vertical of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U). The initiative specifically targets families identified through demand surveys conducted via the Department of Housing For All's web portal from September 13, 2023, to October 19, 2023, and January 5, 2024, to January 19, 2024. Last year, approximately 2.89 lakh applicants registered their demand for flats or plots online, with preferences split between plots and flats. Under the beneficiary-led construction vertical of PMAY-U, beneficiaries are entitled to construct duplex flats with carpet areas ranging from 350 square feet to 425 square feet on the allotted plots, following standard designs. Financial assistance up to Rs 1.5 lakh per beneficiary will facilitate house construction, supplemented by subsidies, loans, and interest subvention schemes. The state government will provide interest subvention on EMIs for beneficiaries securing housing loans up to Rs 6 lakh from nationalized banks or housing finance companies. Interest will be fully covered for the first two years, up to Rs 35,000 in the third year, up to Rs 25,000 in the fourth year, and up to Rs 10,000 in the fifth year. Additional benefits include waived charges for building approval, development, betterment levy, nominal registration fees of Rs 500 for plot conveyance deeds, and waived charges for water and sewerage connections at the time of application. In addition to the urban housing scheme, the Haryana government also decided to implement the 'Mukhya Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana' (MMGAY) to ensure all rural residents have access to affordable and habitable dwelling units. MMGAY aims to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh or the actual plot price, whichever is lower, for the purchase of residential plots up to 100 square yards for those who did not receive plots under the Mahatma Gandhi Gramin Basti Yojana (MGGBY). The Rural Development Department will provide the beneficiary list under MGGBY to identify individuals who have not received possession of plots in the last 15 years, thus qualifying them for MMGAY. This scheme will be implemented during the fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26, promoting sustainable development and vibrant rural communities.