Housing for All by 2022

Government is committed to endeavour to have housing for all by 2022 by extending additional tax incentive on home loans to encourage people, especially the young, to own houses. It has proposed to set up a Mission on Low Cost Affordable Housing to be anchored in the National Housing Bank. The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley informed the Lok Sabha while presenting the General Budget 2014-15 that a sum of Rs 4,000 crore has been earmarked for National Housing Bank with a view to increase the flow of cheaper credit for affordable housing to the urban poor/EWS/LIG segment. He added that Government has already outlined some other incentives such as easier flow of FDI in this sector and is willing to examine other positive suggestions. He also informed the inclusion of slum development in the list of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to encourage the private sector to contribute more towards this activity.

Shri Jaitley informed that the Rural Housing Scheme has benefited a large percentage of rural population who have availed credit through Rural Housing Fund (RHF). In the light of the above, enhanced allocations to the tune of Rs. 8,000 crore has been made for National Housing Bank (NHB) for the year 2014-15 to expand and support Rural Housing in the country.

Source : Press Information Bureau

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