GPRA: All you need to know about the E-Sampada system

In order to provide affordable homes to its employees, the central government maintains a pool of housing units, which is allotted based on eligibility, requirement and vacancies. To make it easier for government employees to apply for accommodations, the Union Housing Ministry has launched the e-Sampada portal. Earlier, the allotment was done through the E-Awas portal, where the applicants were able to choose and apply for housing units at their work location under the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) system. To apply for subsidised housing, the applicant needs to follow certain guidelines and fulfil the eligibility criteria. Here is your guide to the GPRA e-Awas and e-Sampada portal and things you need to know about it.

See also: E-Awas Mumbai: How to apply for government quarters in Mumbai?

What is General Pool Residential Accommodation?

General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) is the central government’s scheme to provide residential accommodation to eligible central government employees. These are under the administration of the Directorate of Estates (DoE) in Delhi and are allotted according to the provisions laid down in the Allotment of Government Residences Rules, 1963, in Delhi and 31 stations outside the national capital including Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, etc. Applicants working under the government of the NCT of Delhi or the central government, are eligible for the General Pool and are entitled for allotment. The eligible zone covered under the GPRA is the NCT of Delhi along with the city limits or areas declared by the Directorate of Estates’ regional offices or the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).

See also: GPRA Delhi: How to apply through E-Awas

Who is eligible for general pool residential accommodation?

• For applicants working in government offices in Delhi, their location should be approved by the Cabinet Committee on Accommodation (CCA). Along with this, they should be situated within the boundary of the NCT.
• For applicants working in government offices apart from Delhi, their proposals should be approved by the CCA and should be forwarded to the directorate, with the approval of the joint secretary, with information such as status of office and if the officer and department staff is eligible for residential accommodation from any other pool.
• All government employees having a departmental residential accommodation pool, are also eligible to apply for the general pool. However, the applicant has to submit a certificate from their department stating that ‘no junior to the applicant has been given in turn allotment’ from the department pool. Certificates which do not specifically mention these terms, will not be accepted.

See also: E-Awas Chandigarh: All you need to know

Grade pay and accommodation entitled

Priority for accommodation allotment

It should be noted that officers eligible for Type V and higher accommodation, can also choose an accommodation that is below their entitlement but not lower than Type IV (Special). However, officers entitled for Type V-A and Type IV (Special) may also apply for Type IV accommodation.

Allotment procedure of GPRA

Allotments under the GPRA are based on a ‘Unified Waiting List’ for a particular type of accommodation. In this waiting list, all applicants, including those waiting for initial allotment, as well as change of accommodation, are clubbed together. The allotments are made, based on their date of priority and seniority. Each applicant gets two allotments in each type of accommodation, i.e., initial and change.

How to apply for GPRA using e-Sampada?

All government employees need to apply for allotment of houses online only. Follow the procedure step-by-step, to apply for government accommodation:

Step 1: Visit the portal and click on ‘Government Residential Accommodation’.

Step 2: Applicants need to submit the Login ID request form on the e-Sampada website. Once registered, login through your registered mobile number or official e-mail ID, or through the details received in your mailbox.

Step 3: Once you are logged in, you will be able to fill the DE-II form and follow the procedure.

Step 4: Fill the applicant form and the DE-II form. The form will be verified online on e-Sampada by the administrative division of the eligible offices.

Step 5: Once accepted, the application will be included in the next month’s waiting list for all eligible types of accommodation.

Step 6: After an allotment of accommodation is made, the allotment letters will be received by the allottees online and the individual allottee shall submit his acceptance online, within a period of eight days, by filling up the ‘Acceptance Form’ available on e-Sampada

Applications through e-Awas

If you are applying through e-Awas, all applications will have to be directed through the ‘Automated System of Allotment’ (ASA) using the DE-2 Form, for the cities where the ASA is available on the website of the Directorate of Estates. This application should be made, only after regular appointment/joining, or transfer at the place of posting in the ministries, departments or offices of the government and other organisations, declared eligible for GPRA. Follow this step-by-step procedure to apply:

Step 1: Visit the GPRA portal and click on the region, where you want to apply for accommodation.

Step 2: Create your login ID through e-Awas by filling up a form.

Step 3: Use this login ID and password and fill the DE-2 Form.

Step 4: Take a print of this form and get it forwarded by the applicant’s office to the DoE.

Step 5: Once the DE-2 Form is submitted, the applicant’s account will be activated and included in the waiting list, for submitting the preferences of houses in e-Awas and to make required changes in the preferences, as and when required.

Note: The applications received up to the last day of the month are included in the waiting list of the subsequent month. Also, the Aadhaar number is compulsory, for applying for GPRA.

Allotment letter and authority slip

All allotment letters are issued online and the acceptance has to be filled up through the ‘Acceptance Form’ available on e-Awas and e-Sampada. Once the Acceptance Form is verified and accepted by the office, an authority slip and a licence fee bill will be generated online and will be sent to the allottee. Once the physical occupation report of the allotted accommodation is received by the allottee, a revised licence fee bill will be sent online to the allottee.

Precautions to be taken while taking possession of the flat

1. The allottee should take note of each and every item of fitting/furnishing provided in the flat, to avoid inconvenience at later stage.
2. Each deficiency, damage should be brought to the notice of the CPWD and should be duly acknowledged.
3. The allottee should put their own lock after the handover.
4. The allottee should obtain the Physical Occupation Report, signed by the junior engineer, CPWD.
5. The allottee needs to approach the municipal authorities concerned, to secure water and electricity connection for the allotted house.
6. Rent will be charged from the date of occupation or the eighth day from the date of allotment letter, whichever is earlier. The licence fee will be charged from the date of handing over of the accommodation to the allottee, in case the CPWD certifies that the house is not fit for occupation.

Procedure for change of accommodation

An applicant can apply for a change of accommodation in the same type only. However, only one change is permissible in a particular type of accommodation. An allottee who seeks changes, needs to submit an online application in the prescribed form and a hard copy of the same application should be forwarded by his office to the IFC, DoE, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi or at the regional offices at various places. The applicant can also give preferences for areas online, during the bidding period for a particular type of accommodation.

The allottee needs to submit his acceptance for change of accommodation, within eight days from the date on which the allotment letter was issued and vacate the previous unit in his possession within 15 days from the date on which the new accommodation is occupied. If the allottee fails to vacate the home within the prescribed period, it may result in cancellation of allotment, along with eviction proceedings.

Allotment of Type VII and VIII accommodations under GPRA

All allotments under the general pool of Type VII and VIII are allotted by the Urban Development Minister, after considering the necessity and sensitivity of the post. The applications for such accommodations can also be made online, through the DE-2 Form which is then sent to the DoE for verification. The procedure is exactly the same as for other categories of accommodation.

Quotas and pools for GPRA allotments

There are a number of quotas and pools, for allotments under GPRA:

1. Secretaries pool: Around 70 Type VII houses in different areas of New Delhi are available for online allotment to the secretaries of the government of India through ASA.
2. Tenure officers’ pool: A number of accommodations are meant for officers of All India Services (IAS, IPS, etc.) who are on duty with the government of India on a tenure basis.
3. Tenure pool: A number of housing options are maintained for Non-All India Services Officers on central deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme.
4. Lady officers’ pool: Some accommodations are maintained separately for married and single lady officers. The lady officers are also eligible for the general pool. However, change of accommodation to a lady officer is allowed only against the Lady Officers’ Pool.
5. Legal officers’ pool: Around 10 houses are maintained for law officers of the government of India, such as solicitor general, additional solicitor general and attorney general.
6. Press pool: Around 100 accommodations are maintained for journalists and press cameramen. These allotments are made on recommendations from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Professionals drawing salary up to Rs 20,000 per month are placed in Category I and are eligible for Type IV accommodation. Similarly, those who have salary between Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000, are placed in Category II and are eligible for Type IV (Special) accommodation.
7. Artists’ pool: Under this quota, around 40 houses are maintained for eminent artists, to be recommended by the Ministry of Culture.

Out-of-turn allotments under discretionary quota

Discretionary allotments are made on medical, security and functional grounds and are one type below the entitlement of the applicants. Such priority allotments are made on the first floor in central areas and any floor in non-central areas. These allotments are done, on requests of government officers, on extreme compassionate groups and are restricted to a total of five houses in each type in a calendar year.

Surrendering accommodation allotted under GPRA

An allottee can surrender the general pool residential accommodation in his occupation, by informing the DoE at least two days before the date of vacating the residence. The allotment of the residence will be cancelled, with effect from the 11th day after the day when the letter is received by the directorate or the date specified in the letter, whichever is later. If the applicant fails to give due notice, he shall pay the licence fee for 10 days, or the number of days by which the notice given by him falls short of 10 days, provided that the DoE may accept a notice for a short period.

Vacating premises after retirement/dismissal/resignation

The allotment is cancelled or deemed cancelled, after the expiry of the concessional period of retention, as permissible under the rules, after an allottee ceases to be on duty in an office eligible for government accommodation.

List of cities with General Pool Residential Accommodation

Offerings under GPRA through E-Sampada

A user can book the following spaces through E-Sampada:

1. Venue booking: Currently, 5 Ashoka Road and Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi, can be booked online through E-Sampada. Other locations include Kidwai Nagar Lawns and Fagli Club, Shimla.
2. Booking of shops/markets: The Directorate of Estates also manages the allotment and ownership rights of INA Market, as well as the newly-constructed markets in New Moti Bagh and Kidwai Nagar (east).

GPRA: Latest news

Government accommodation allotted to officials under the GPRA category, has now become costlier as the centre has issued an order to increase the flat rate of licence fee recoverable for the accommodation throughout the country. According to the order issued by the Housing Ministry, the licence fee rates for all types of government accommodations will be increased – from type I to type VIII – based on the level of pay matrix under the 7th Pay Commission. The revised rates of licence fee would be effective from July 1, 2020. The increment has been exempted for serving personnel of the Defence Ministry and accommodations under the control of the Railway Ministry. For a government official to get a government quarter, the House Rent Allowance (HRA) of the basic salary has to be forgone and upon that a nominal rent (licence fee) is deducted from the gross salary.

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