representative image Dehradun:The state cabinet approved it on Wednesday Uttarakhand housing policy under which it has eased the norms economically weaker section (EWS) Pradhan Mantri Awas YojanaWhile the Center allows those earning less than Rs 3 lakh for EWS houses, the state government has reduced the limit to Rs 5 lakh or less. The carpet area of EWS houses will be 30 square meters and beneficiaries will be charged Rs 9 lakh for one unit. Similarly, the criteria for Lower Income Group (LIG) and Lower Middle Income Group (LMIG) have also been defined.
People earning Rs 5 lakh to Rs 9 lakh have been included in the LIG group and people earning Rs 9 lakh to Rs 12 lakh have been included in the LMIG category. The rate will be Rs 14 lakh per unit for LIG homes with carpet area between 30 square meters (sq.m.) to 45 sq.m., and Rs. 25 lakh per unit for LMIG homes with carpet area between 45 sq.m. to 60 sq.m. Consumer state subsidy has been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
Besides this, the state will promote row housing in the hilly areas of the state. It will also provide roads for last mile connectivity and subsidies will be given to private developers of row housing.
Earlier, the government had announced 50% subsidy for consumers using electricity less than 100 units in the plains and 200 units in the hilly areas. The Cabinet has authorized district magistrates to form teams to check whether consumers are violating the norms to avail the subsidy in both plains and hilly areas. “Double amount of subsidy taken will be recovered from those violating the norms,” Energy Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram said.
Apart from this, Uttarakhand Transport Corporation has been authorized to purchase 100 new BS6 buses, for which the principal amount will be borne by the department and the interest by the state government. This project will cost Rs 34 crore.
Also, the formation of Transgender Welfare Board (TWB) has been approved to protect the rights of transgender persons. Currently, there are TWBs in 19 states and union territories. The proposal to introduce the concept of one-time user fee in medical colleges was also approved.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal from the Secondary Education Department to allow students who have undergone sex-change operation to get their name and gender changed in their academic records. IAS officer Shailesh Bagauli said, “A provision has been made as per the central law and the change has been approved by the cabinet.”
The Cabinet also approved the proposal of the Higher Education Department for educational tourism for students and teachers. Additionally, the dress allowance of government drivers in various departments has been increased from Rs 2,400 to Rs 3,000 per annum.
