CHAPTER – 17

VALMIKI AMBEDKAR AWAS YOJANA

(VAMBAY)
1. Preamble: -
Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation of Government of
India has announced a scheme called “Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana ”(VAMBAY)
for providing housing to the slum dwellers. This will bring profound social change in
the status of slum dweller and welfare endowing him with an identity and integrating
him with social milieu.
The provisional population of urban area in India is about 28.53 crores as per
provisional census data of 2001. TCPO of GOI projected the urban slum population of
62 million by 2001. This indicates India is urbanising markedly and slums in urban
India are increasing alarmingly. The Planning Commission of GOI at the beginning of
the 10th Plan indicated shortage of housing in urban area would be 16.76 million. Of
this, 10 million houses would be needed for economically weaker section alone who
can be broadly categorised as “Below poverty” beneficiaries. In view of this the twin
problem of shelter delivery for urban poor and upgradation of urban slums are
inextricably linked. The Central Government has already launched two programmes
namely 'Swarna Jayanti Sahakari Yojana' and 'National Slum Development
Programme' to bring the urban poor above poverty line through self-employment,
wage employment and capacity building vis-à-vis the NSDP is basically a programme
for environmental improvement of urban slums. However there is a significant need of
component pertaining to housing delivery to the slum dwellers. In view of this the
Central Govt.has announced the Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY).
2. Salient Features:-
2.1 Slum dwellers below poverty line and members of EWS who do not
possess adequate shelter.
2.2 The definition of the slum for the purpose of VAMBAY is as under;
a) All areas notified as slum by state/Local Government/Union Territory
under any Act.
b) All areas recognised as slum by state/Local Government/Union Territory,
which have not been formally notified as a slum under any Act
c) A compact area of atleast 300 population/60-70 households of poorly built
congested tenements in an unhygienic environment usually with inadequate
infrastructure and lacking in proper sanitary and drinking facilities.
d) Beneficiaries who construct the house, make his own arrangement for
construction material, engage labour and also contribute family labour.
e) Freedom for manner of construction of houses to the beneficiaries.
 f) The layout, size and type design would depend upon local conditions and
discretion of the beneficiary.
g) Barrier free concept, incorporation of disaster resistance features
compulsory.
2.3 VAMBAY houses will be earmarked and allotted as under:
i. SC/ST not less than 50%
ii. Backward classes 30%
iii. Other weaker sections 15%
(OBC, BC etc. as defined in any particular State)
iv. Physically and mentally handicapped persons 5%
v. Preference to the women headed household, urban poor who are members
of self-help group and persons eligible for old age pensions as defined by State Govt.
2.4 If sufficient number of beneficiaries as above are not available in
city/slum other categories can be included after due certification by Competent
Authority. Houses will be allotted in the name of female member and alternatively in
the name of husband and wife jointly.
2.5 SUDA and DUDA will identify the beneficiaries and formulate the
project, estimate and submit the same to Govt. of India / HUDCO through State Govt.
for release of funds.
2.6 Land will be provided by State Govt. either insitu, partly insitu or by
relocation. Land title will be given to the selected beneficiaries with the condition of
repayment of loan if any.
2.7 Upper limit of cost of construction is as under: -
a) Under normal circumstances maximum Rs.40,000 for an area not less
than 15 Sq. mt. plinth area, with provision for sanitary latrine.
b) Ceiling on construction assistance

Normal Area Difficult Area

Construction with sanitary Rs.35,000/- Rs.37,500/-
latrine
Infrastructure and common Rs. 5,000/- Rs. 7,500/-
facilities.
TOTAL Rs. 40,000/- Rs. 45,000/-
The average cost of VAMBAY house is Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 60,000 i.e Rs.60, 000
for mega city, Rs. 50.000 for metro city and Rs. 40,000 for cities having population
less than 10 lakh.
c) For rental housing 50% grant by SUDA/Implementing Agency and 50%
to be borrowed by the state agency.
 d) 20% portion of VAMBAY available for upgrading existing house in slum.
e) Town Planning norms are applicable.
f) 20 % grant is to be used for Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan. (For constructing
WC’s).
3. Funding Pattern:-
3.1 Proportion of GOI subsidy to HUDCO loan will be 1:1
3.2 HUDCO will release subsidy and loan directly to SUDA.
3.3 In case HUDCO loan is not required, state can mobilise its matching
portion either from beneficiaries, loan sources other than HUDCO, urban local body
or state finances. HUDCO will release GOI grant component only after the state share
of 50%, which deposited in the designated account of implementing agency.
3.4 SJSRY and NSDP can be dovetailed and synergised with VAMBAY.
4. Urban Infrastructure:-
4.1 State Government to mobilize other sources for providing water supply,
sanitation and electricity in addition to the provision of infrastructure made under
VAMBAY.
4.2 Community infrastructure, social infrastructure, schools, hospitals,
transport links and approved layout are mandatory for sanction of VAMBAY.
4.3 Green areas, open space, recreation area are integral part of VAMBAY
design.
5. Involvement of Non-Governmental Organization can be associated
6. Display of VAMBAY Board and Logo
7. Monitoring and evaluation study by State Government under state level
coordination committee.
8. Transparency in implementation of VAMBAY.
Disclosure of information should be the rule
9. Demonstration project/one model system in each state.
2% of allocation is to be utilized for this purpose.
10. For implementation of VAMBAY, GOVT of Maharashtra has issued the
GR on 19th September 2002 & scheme was made applicable for 62 cities in the State.
Afterward, additional 18 cities are also included in list vide GR dated 12.01.2004 &
05.05.2004.
11. Physical & Financial achievement is enclosed herewith.
*******

VAMBAY- ACHIEVEMENTS
 (upto 31.03.2008)

Sr Board DUs Toilets Expenditure

.N Rs. in lakhs
o.
Comple In Total Complet In Total
ted Pro ed Pro
gres gres
s s
1. MSIB 10044 0 10044 21442 0 2144 14406.86
2
2. KONKAN 3390 48 3438 1421 0 1421 1902.00

3. PUNE 15716 0 15716 1819 0 1819 7549.74

4. NASHIK 5939 418 6357 1798 129 1927 3166.48

5. AURANGA 17987 0 17987 554 0 554 7392.11

BAD

6. AMRAVATI 17734 514 18248 1160 170 1330 7644.79

7. NAGPUR 9157 0 9157 20 0 20 3969.50

TOTAL 79967 980 80947 28214 299 2851 46031.48

3

Note: -1) In the above expenditure, the additional expenditure of Rs.10,000/- for 16285
houses which was approved by GOM vide GR. dated 12/09/07 is not included.
2) In the above table, though physical works are shown as completed, final bills
of some works are yet to be finalised.

Achievements during 2007-2008

During year 2007-2008, 15871 dwelling units and 1871 toilets seats are completed at the
cost of Rs. 7252.70 Lakh.

Uptodate achievements under VAMBAY

Since inception to date (i.e. 31 March 2008), construction of 80947 Dwelling units
were started, out of this 79961 Dwelling units are completed with the expenditure of Rs.
34905.39 Lakh and also 28513 Toilet seats were started out of this 28214toilet seats are
completed with the expenditure of Rs. 11126.09. The total expenditure on VAMBAY till
date is Rs. 46031.48 Lakh.