Innovative Housing Initiative in Kanker District: Empowering Women and Boosting Rural Development

Strategic Insights -

The Kanker district administration has introduced a novel initiative, Awas Tolis (housing teams), to speed up housing construction in remote villages and generate employment while strengthening women's participation in rural development. The collector has directed the integration of resources from PMAY (Rural), NRLM, and MGNREGA to establish Awas Tolis, comprising trained masons, local youth, and women from self-help groups (SHGs). The teams have formed 253 Awas Tolis involving 1,760 members, including 280 women from SHGs, playing a crucial dual role in ensuring construction support and enhancing livelihood opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Kanker district administration has formed 253 Awas Tolis to speed up housing construction in remote villages, involving 1,760 members, including 280 women from SHGs.
  • The Awas Tolis are crucial in ensuring construction support to beneficiaries and enhancing livelihood opportunities for local youth and women, with each team comprising at least one trained mason, who trains other young team members.
  • SHG members in these teams are providing concrete mixer machines and centering plates on rent at government-approved rates, directly contributing to the income of women-led SHGs and increasing their visibility in local governance.
  • Beneficiaries are responsible for paying for materials and rental equipment, but the Awas Tolis assist them in procuring these efficiently, while the MGNREGA wage components can be redirected towards compensating team members for their labour.
  • The construction quality and compliance under the scheme are supervised by technical assistants as per existing PMAY-G norms, with the administration hoping to replicate the concept in other development projects.

Statistics:

  • 253 Awas Tolis have been formed, involving 1,760 members, including 280 women from SHGs.
  • The teams are assisting in generating employment and strengthening women's participation in rural development in Kanker district.
  • 14 women members operate mixer machines, while 32 manage centering plates, directly contributing to the income of women-led SHGs and increasing their visibility in local governance.
  • For the current financial year 2024-25, Kanker district has been allotted a target of constructing 37,932 houses under PMAY (Rural), with 29,720 houses already sanctioned and construction underway.

Sources:

  • "Kanker districts forms Awas Tolis to deliver sanitation facilities in rural areas" by Zee Business (no date provided)
  • "Kanker district forms Awas Tolis to speed up housing construction in remote villages" by PTI, The Hitavada (no date provided)