Budget 2022- Forty-Eight Thousand Crores devoted to the construction of 80 lakh eco-friendly houses in India 

By R.K. Sinha

If the financial condition of a person or family is not very stable, it does not, in any manner, hinder them from dreaming of a home of their own. It is the sincere desire of every person that they acquire the pleasure of living in their house at the very onset of their existence. To bring theirs’s and million others’ dreams to life, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made a hefty proposal worth Rs 48,000 crore in the Union Budget for the year 2022-23, with a resolution to build about 80 lakh houses in the country.

That is indeed a very pragmatic decision considering societal welfare and the current standard of living. A step in this direction shows the genuine intention of the government to help those people whose income is limited and who are not able to own their houses. With the construction of 80 lakh houses during the current financial year, at least three to four crore families with five to six members in each will transition into new homes. 

If we are to understand the sense of freedom owning your own house brings, we must ask those who have had the pleasure of shifting from a rented house to their own after being berated by the constant taunts of their landlord. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana 80 lakh, affordable homes will be provided to the needy while the government has decided to expand the housing scheme. The central government will work in consonance with the state governments for its implementation. They will combine their effort to reduce the time taken for land acquisition and construction approvals for the scheme. The government has also decided to cooperate with financial sector regulators to bring down the cost of arbitration and raise capital effortlessly.

Despite such great initiatives taken by the government, their impact has been limited.  A major part of that money goes into the pockets of a few corrupt people. For most of the time, the benefits of the scheme are not available to the public who need it the most. This is an unfortunate situation. The concerned departments of the Central and State Governments will have to ensure that the construction of standard houses is done with an amount of Rs.48,000 crores. Arranging land for the construction of ‘so many’ houses will be a Herculean task.

For this, the land for the construction of houses must be swiftly acquired at the necessary places, in close proximity to a city where there are means of employment for the poor. During the construction of houses, arrangements for public transport will also have to be made available. Those who buy houses must not face any problem commuting to their offices, factories, or shops. All adequate facilities such as schools, hospitals, markets, etc., will need to be provided.

The houses constructed in rural areas must be without compromising their quality. Throughout a project, all these aspects have to be examined closely. It is the duty and responsibility of the government to ensure that the builders who come forward to build cheap houses get a lot of tax exemption. Numerous eco-friendly homes are being built in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Goa. These are made at almost half the cost of normal homes. These houses can be offered as models. We should also look for those architects who have proven themselves in designing cheap and beautiful houses. Several architects claim that using eco-friendly materials can make homes affordable that require less maintenance. In the aforementioned states, many houses are being built with eco-friendly home materials. So we have to think about making eco-friendly houses across the country.

One has to give up the temptation of a golf course facing or river facing houses and think about building beautiful eco-friendly homes. Our architect fraternity also has to adopt a creative approach so that we think beyond the construction of traditional houses. Hundreds of architecture degree colleges have been founded in India. Thousands of new architects pass out every year from them, but is there any college offering education to build eco-friendly homes? That seems highly unlikely.

If the proposed 80 lakh houses are built with advanced technology, it will become a glowing example for us and others across the globe. It is next to impossible to comprehend society’s need to compete to build extravagant and flamboyant houses. Massive houses are being built, but some do not even have space for books. 

The government will have to consistently stay strong in its pursuit to build affordable eco-friendly houses in the coming years. The number of millionaires in the country is rising day by day. This cycle is going to continue in the future as well. This section of the society can buy houses anywhere they wish with their ever-compounding wealth. But, the government also has to strive to ensure economic equality in India. Undoubtedly, the income of most people has plummeted due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Thus, the government will have to pay special attention to this category and address the public with renewed enthusiasm and energy regarding its smart cities project.

(The author is a senior editor, columnist, and former MP)