Housing scheme fails in reality
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 24 2013 :
In stark contrast to the award and recognition given to the State by Central Government for successful implementation of Urban Housing Scheme under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM), the beneficiaries have not fully received the housing grant and they are now unable to complete their houses.
The Housing Scheme has been taken up in areas within Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) under the name of "Basic Service for Urban Poor".
The beneficiaries have been chosen from among the families belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) .
The entitlement for each beneficiary is Rs.3 lakhs, out of which Rs.15,000 is the beneficiary's share while Rs.2.85 lakhs would be given as grant from the government.
The Scheme was started in 2010 under the Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD) Department with 1220 beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries have started constructing their houses with their share of Rs.15,000 each and they are supposed to receive the grant in four transactions.
However, they have not received the amount even for the third transaction.
The poor beneficiaries are now in a state of financial crisis and they are unable to complete their houses.
Notably, the Central Government has given a special award of Rs.3 lakh to the State Government for successful implementation of the Scheme.
The recognition came just after the State Government submitted the Utilization Certificate for the third transaction of this scheme.
But, there are many beneficiaries who have not received the third transaction.
The beneficiaries are apprehensive whether they would get the remaining amount of the housing grant or not.
They said that the housing scheme is meant for the betterment of their livelihood, but MAHUD has made their livelihood even worse by withholding the transactions.
Moreover, Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) has collected the original land documents of the beneficiaries against the guidelines and norms of this scheme.
New housing scheme "Rajiv Awaaz Yojna" has already been taken by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in other States, but this scheme could not be implemented in the State as the previous scheme of Basic Service for Urban Poor is yet to be completed.
The poor beneficiaries are now in a critical state with financial burdens upon them.
They have drawn the attention of the authorities concerned to look into this matter and bring relief to the urban poor people of the State.