General Guidelines of Gitanjali Housing Scheme
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
HOUSING DEPARTMENT
(P&W BRANCH)
NEW SECRETARIATBUILDING, BLOCK-A, 1st FLOOR,
1, K. S. ROY ROAD, 1st FLOOR, KOLKATA-700001
No. 382-H1/HG/P/1B-5/2013 Dated, Kolkata, the 29th May, 2014.
MEMORANDUM
The Government in the Department of Housing has decided to modify the Housing Scheme for new construction of houses throughout the State of West Bengal for Economically Weaker Sections of People (EWS) who have no pucca house of their own or in the name of any member of their family.
The Scheme will continue in the name of ‘GITANJALI’ only. The Scheme ‘AMAR THIKANA’ will discontinue with effect from 01/04/2014 and will stand abolished and merged with ‘GITANJALI’. The ‘GITANJALI’ Scheme would be re-casted on the pattern of IAY. The houses would be constructed by beneficiaries themselves and no contracting agency will be engaged for the purpose. All the revised guidelines will come into effect from 01/04/2014. Liabilities for the earlier allotted cases will be paid by the Housing Department and claim should be made by the Departments within the Financial Year 2014-15 (by 31.01.2015) positively. If Departments fail to claim, then they will have to complete the schemes from their own budgetary fund. Thus the projects (houses) already under construction will not be affected and will continue to be financed under old financing norms i. e. vide this department’s Memo no. 783-H1/1B-1/2009 (Pt. ) dt. 23.12.2009.
After careful consideration of the matter a revised general guideline of the scheme has been framed as given hereunder:-
1. Category of Beneficiaries
a) Poor People in Rural and Urban areas.
b) Poor People in Erosion/ Flood/ Other calamity affected/ Disaster prone areas.
c) Poor People affected by Government Projects (As part of rehabilitation measures).
2. Income Criterion
The people having family income of Rs. 6000/- per month or less are eligible. People in the BPL list will get priority.
3. Extent of application of the scheme
The Scheme is applicable to all over the state of West Bengal including Rural and Urban areas.
4. Provision of Land
The Scheme will be implemented in Rural areas on the land to be provided by the beneficiary of his/ her own land/ patta land and must be free from all encumbrances. In case of urban areas where land of beneficiaries is not available, the Group Housing may be built on the land supplied by District Administration, Municipality or any Development Authority.
5. Area
The dwelling unit will be in the IAY pattern. District Authority will provide a low cost toilet in every case.
6. Cost of the dwelling Units
a) In Rural Area and Urban Areas (plains areas ):- As per IAY pattern of Rs. 70,000/- per unit.
b) In Hilly/ Difficult and Sundarban Areas :- As per IAY pattern of Rs. 75,000/- per unit.
The mode of selection of beneficiaries of ‘GITANAJALI’ and ‘IAY’ would be however different.
7. Implementation
Housing Department will implement the scheme through District Magistrate of the concerned District. He will nominate one of the Additional District Magistrate of the District to look after daily activities of the Scheme on his behalf. District Planning Officer of the District will act as Nodal.
At the start of financial year, Housing Department will fix the category wise target for the District considering the population of the district as per 2011 census. On the basis of that target, District Magistrate will select the beneficiary category wise and will send to this Department filling the Format in Annexure- A and Annexure- B respectively in his original signature. In this selection he can consider the suggestion of elected panchayat bodies.
On receiving the proposal from District Magistrate, Administrative Department will accord Administrative approval with concurrence of Finance Department (where the amount is not within the delegated powers of Financial Advisor) and release 50% of approved amount to District Magistrate as 1st installment. After the submission of Utilization Certificate of 60% of released amount through 1st Installment, the 2nd installment of release of remaining 50% of Administrative Approval can be claimed form the Housing Department.
8. Release of Fund
District Magistrate will draw the amounts in his PL Account in two installments and subsequently disburse the same to the beneficiary into two installments at the rate of 50% and 50 % each. After proper utilization of first installment of 50% release, the 2nd installment of 50% may be disbursed in full to the beneficiary by District Magistrate. In no cases the initial allotment may be used for the purchase of materials as a whole. Purchase of material and construction work will be done simultaneously and proportionately. District Magistrates can be given flexibility to use either the local bodies (Panchayat/ Municipalities) or the block set-up or line Departments’ set-up to execute/ oversee but in general the SAE’s posted in the Blocks will be responsible for technical supervision and he will recommended the release of subsequent installment being satisfied with the progress of work and the Executive Assistants of the concerned Gram Panchayat will perform daily monitoring of the progress and report to the SAE concerned.
9. Monitoring of the Scheme
A three tier monitoring system will be set up at State, District and Block Level.
Secretary, Housing Department at the State level, District Magistrate at the District level and SDO/ BDO at the Sub-Divisional/ Block level may be identified as the nodal monitors. Implementing/ overseeing agencies and stakeholders may be co-opted in the monitoring committees.
10. Reporting
State level review meeting will be held monthly and it will be held on first working day after 15th of next month. Similarly all District Magistrates will fix the dates of monthly review meeting before the state level review meeting as per their conveniences.
11. Exclusive Rights
Housing Department reserves the exclusive right of any addition, alteration, corrections of the schemes/ lists of beneficiaries after approval if it is felt essential.
The above noted Monitoring Committee will also monitor and look after the already sanctioned and implemented units in different districts by different Departments.
This has concurrence of the Finance Department Vide their Group-‘F’, U. O. No. 238 dt. 11.02.2014.
This issues in modification of this Department’s Memo No. 783-H1/1B-1/2009 (Pt.) dt. 23.12.2009.
Sd/- Secretary
Housing Department