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HUDCO : A techno - financial institution
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HUDCO offers techno-financial assistance to public agencies for all types of Housing and Urban/Rural Development schemes covering almost all aspects of physical and environmental upliftments. Besides State Agencies, now HUDCO finances NGOs and Private Builders as well. HUDCO operates a number of Action Plan Schemes of Govt. of India which have substantial grants upto 100%. The schemes like Night Shelters for the footpath jewellers, Housing and Shelter Upgradation for the poor, Building Centres, Low Cost Sanitation etc. come under the Action Plan Schemes, HUDCO also provides assistance for urban Infrastructure, Land Acquisition and Social Infrastructure schemes among others. In the recent past HUDCO has financed large scale Land Acquisition Schemes, Railway Stations, Rail Lines, Harbours, Prisons, Conversion of Urban Wastes into energy etc. in many States.
Social objectives of HUDCO
The long-term loan offered by HUDCO at low rate of interest help the economically disadvantaged people to own a house and repay gradually while enjoying its benefit. HUDCO fulfils a social objective by channelising 55% of its funds to EWS and LIG income categories at highly subsidized rate of interest and 45% to the other income groups at a slightly high rate of interest. Thus any State availing loan assistance from HUDCO more for the priority sector, enjoys a lower average rate of interest. 
Annual Statewise Allocations for Loan Sanction
HUDCO makes income categorywise fund allocations every year for housing Schemes on the basis of area and population of each State. 55% EWS (Rural)-15%, EWS (Urban)-20% and LIG-25%) of the total financial assistance is provided for the benefit of economically weaker sections and lower income groups. Lower the income group, lower is the interest rate and higher is the extent of finance. In case a State fails to avail the fund allocated by HUDCO, the same is diverted to the other States. Thus, a State may avail loan much its allocation under each income category.
Thrust on innovations and self-sustainability
HUDCO strives for innovations, cost reduction and self-sustainability of each scheme so that an agency does not get financially sick. HUDCO has promoted a number of Building Centres in the State in order to ensure cost-effective building material and technology and skill upgradation. The Building Centre may also under take demonstration in construction and design counselling in order to facilitate affordable shelter for the common people. Agencies are likely to get financially stronger after implementing schemes with HUDCO financial assistance. HUDCO offers consultancy services in planning and design of all types of Housing and Urban Infrastructure schemes. It also undertakes demonstration projects.
Mobilisation and delivery of resources
  • Mobilisation
Traditionally, HUDCO mobilises resources by borrowing funds from various organisations like LIC. GIC etc. and from the market by issuing bonds and debentures besides having its own equity base. The minimum rate of interest for all such borrowings is 13%. Recently, HUDCO has launched a highly attractive Public Deposit Scheme to mobilise resources from the household sector.
  • Delivery
HUDCO pays dividends as well as income tax to the government and maintains a competitive rate of interest by offering loan to EWS at 9% LIG at 12% to 13% MIG at 14.5% to 15% and HIG at 15.5% rate of interest. This has been possible due to low overhead cost, slim size of the corporation (well below 800 employees for its all India operation), totally professional management, hard work and strong commitment to the objectives.
Salient features of HUDCO Financial Assistance
  • Scheme Guidelines
HUDCO loan assistance programme covers every aspects of built environment in both urban and rural area. Each scheme as enlisted in Annexure-1 has a guideline giving all details of the scheme. Any Agency seeking HUDCO loan should go through the scheme guideline, loan application form and the checklist of prerequisites available at the Regional Office.
  • Eligibility prerequisites and actions
A new agency approaching HUDCO for the first time for techno-financial assistance, shall have to establish its financial and legal eligibility first. For others, it is necessary to prove their financial health by submitting annual and the unaudited accounts, recovery performance etc. to HUDCO while submitting any scheme for loan sanction. A team of well-trained Executives in all concerned disciplines are always ready to assist and help the Agency with a development attitude in all matters related to their schemes. 
  • Charges payable to HUDCO
in order to obtain financial assistance against a scheme the agencies are required to pay certain service charges. These are as follows :-
  • Application Fee
Each loan application sent to HUDCO must be accompanied with the application fee towards incidental and documentation charges by way of a Bank Draft which varies from Rs. 5,000/- (for EWS Housing Scheme) to Rs. 40,000/- (for Urban Infrastructure schemes with loan amount upto Rs. 20.00. crores)
  • Front-End Fee
One time front-end fees on the total loan amount is levied on all Schemes which varies from 0.5% of the loan amount (for EWS Housing Scheme) to 1.25% of the loan amount (for all other schemes except LIG Housing Scheme). The amount of front-end fee is recovered from 1st loan instalment except in case of Urban Infrastructure Schemes where the same is deducted in instalments. 
  • Rebate
A rebate of 0.25% is allowed to the borrowing agency in the Front-end fee where legal documentation is completed within the prescribed period of 4 months. Otherwise, the  rebate of 0.25% not availed by an agency is transferred to Research & Development (R&D) account of the Agency which is released as a grant to them for upgrading the organisational capability and such, other purposes. However, this grant must be utilised within 3 years.
Interests on loan
  • Gross Rate of Interest
HUDCO generally codes gross rate of interest in all agreements etc. Substantial rebates varying from 0.5% to 2% depending on the type of the scheme are available on this gross rate of interest on timely repayment of principal, interest and other charges to HUDCO. In fact any agency may avail this rebate and enjoy the financial assistance at the net rate of interest.
  • Net Rate of Interest
Net rate of interest charged by HUDCO for various types of schemes are by far the lowest. If a State avails HUDCO funds for the disadvantaged income groups, the average rate of interest may come down even lower. However, in order to get the benefit of low rate of net interest, an agency has to repay the loan instalments in time as per the agreed repayment schedule. Otherwise, they will loose the rebate on the gross rate of interest. 
  • Penal Interest
In the event of any default in payment of principal. Interest etc. the borrower have to pay the principal with the gross rate of interest and a penal interest @ 2.5% over and above the normal gross rate of interest on both principal and interest.
  • Additional interest on non-utilisation on fund
In case of non-utilisation of funds released by HUDCO within a period of 6 months from the date of release, the Agency will be liable to pay an additional interest @ 3% over and above the gross interest rate. In case of Action Plan Schemes (NRY SHASU, ILCS, Night Shelter for Pavement Dwellers), the additional interest rate will be charged @ 2% when funds are not utilised within 12 months from the date of release.
  • Conclusion
Since shelter supports man, family and their creative and productive works at home level, provision of shelter should be treated as on infrastructure to production and creation. It is the single important item towards upgradation of quality of life. The shelter and the physical fabric are the most important factor in shaping the quality of life for the individuals, families and communities. Hence, the Housing and Human Settlement issues are to be addressed by the community as a whole where the State has the most important role to play as a facilitator. HUDCO as a State agency has been playing the role of facilitator since 1970 much before the world was aware about this role of the State.
Contributed by
P R Das
Executive Director (Eastern Zone)
Housing & Urban Development Corporation Limited
HUDCO - A techno - financial institution
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