Housing start-up index launched

In a bid to ensure transparency and accountability in the housing schemes, the government on Wednesday launched the much-awaited housing start-up index (HSUI ) in the capital. The HSUI, is an index, that tracks the number of houses being constructed every year across the country.

The housing and construction related activities in the country with its backward and forward linkages with nearly 254 ancillary industries, has huge multiplier effects on the economy.

While launching the index, Dr Girija Vyas , Union Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation said, “The HSUI is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA) through its integral arm, the National Building Organisation and the Reserve Bank of India,” adding that she said it would thus make the HSUI, a leading indicator of the national economy itself.

“The results of the pilot index will be released in the last week of this month or first week of February 2014,” she also revealed.

The event culminated with the launch of the RAY – Integrated Urban Poverty Monitoring System (IPoMS). In order to closely monitor the submission of the detailed project reports under RAY, by the states, a web-based tool called IPoMS has been designed by the Ministry.

“Through this tool, the implementation of the scheme can be expedited and tracked effectively. This will also ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of the scheme,” she said.