Called the Indira Awas Yojana, it is a flagship scheme of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government that envisages constructing housing units for families living below the poverty line in rural areas.

The financial allocation from the central government for the scheme in the current year is Rs.8,800 crore of which Rs.4,027 crore had been released up to Sep 10.

The minister said: 'This year's total allocation, along with Rs.2,428 crore released by the government as part of the economic stimulus package (in Feb) is sufficient to construct over 4 million units.'