"The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the Ministry of Rural Development’s proposal to raise the unit cost under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), keeping in view the steep increase in the cost of materials.

According to the approved cost, in plain areas, unit assistance under the scheme has been raised from Rs 45,000 to Rs 70,000 and from Rs 48,500 to Rs 75,000 in hilly and difficult areas, an official release said.

The enhancement of unit assistance for homestead site to rural below poverty line (BPL) households who have neither agricultural land nor a house site has been hiked from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

“This was a major point in the agreement between the Government and Jan Satyagraha on October 11, 2012 at Agra,” the release said.

The IAY is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development and aims at addressing rural housing needs by providing grant for construction/upgradation of dwelling units of BPL families.

NID

In another decision, the Cabinet approved making the National Institute of Design (NID) an ‘Institution of National Importance’.

This status would authorise NID, Ahmedabad to award degree to its students, which may prove to be beneficial for students planning to pursue post graduation.

This will fulfil the need to professionalise, standardise and internationally benchmark professional design education in India, so as to take full advantage of opportunities opening up in the design industry, both in domestic as well as in international markets.

CCEA decision

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday approved the Coal Ministry’s proposal for enhancement of area of dwelling units for rehabilitation of affected persons in line with Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) norms under the master plan for Jharia and Raniganj Coalfields, within the leasehold of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd and Eastern Coalfields Ltd respectively.

The area has been expanded from 27 sq.m of super built area to 38.92 sq.m of super built area (25.10 sq.m of carpet area/floor area). The CCEA further authorised the Coal Ministry to approve the revised cost estimates on account of the enhanced area of dwelling units under the Master Plan to be so firmed up after the completion of the demographic survey. The additional cost on account of revision of carpet area of the dwelling units will be funded by the respective coal companies.

The implementation of the Master Plan will ensure the safety of people who will be moved from endangered areas to safer places with better amenities; saving of large amount of coal from burning which provides scope for using the available reserves eventually; and preventing environmental pollution"

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