JNNURM houses allotted to oustees, says Pradyumna
Thursday, 26 November 2009 02:30
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The Hindu 26.11.2009 JNNURM houses allotted to oustees, says Pradyumna Staff Reporter VIJAYAWADA: Municipal Commissioner P. S. Pradyumna has said that as many as 3,843 JNNURM houses have been allotted to the people evicted from various places in the city. The beneficiaries would have to pay Rs. 10,000 as their contribution, for which a demand draft (DD) should be drawn in favour of Commissioner, VMC. The DD should be submitted in the Urban Community Development (UCD) wing of the Corporation. Documentation should be completed in SBH, Gayatri Nagar branch. Warning Mr. Pradyumna said that the Corporation would cancel, without any notice, the houses allotted to the beneficiaries if any one other than the beneficiary was found to be living in it. While 448 houses were allotted in the ‘A’ block of Vambay colony, 1,344 houses were allotted in the ‘C’ Block of Vambay colony, and 300 houses in the H3 block of Vambay colony. Likewise, 1,184, 224, 64,64 and 215 houses were allotted in New Rajarajeswaripeta, Radha Nagar, Sundarayya Nagar, Payakapuram and Jakkampudi, respectively.
Last Updated on Thursday, 26 November 2009 03:01
Dalit housing beneficiaries upset over BBMP’s about-turn
Saturday, 21 November 2009 02:53
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The Hindu 21.11.2009 Dalit housing beneficiaries upset over BBMP’s about-turn Chitra V. Ramani | Civic body release funds only to demand it back |
Five beneficiaries were chosen for the scheme Each one was to get Rs. 3 lakh in four instalments
Bangalore: A scheme meant to enable those from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to build houses on their own, avoiding interference by middlemen, has brought them only grief because of confusion over a communiqué. This has affected five beneficiaries of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s 22.75 per cent scheme for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. After releasing Rs.75,000 as first instalment for the scheme, BBMP officials are now demanding that the funds be returned, and the beneficiaries are crying foul. On November 3, BBMP South Zone officials, including Additional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Chief Engineer and Executive Engineer (BTM Layout), chose five beneficiaries for the scheme — L. Annappa, Obalesh, Pedda Narasimha, Sheshadri and Thippakka. Orders were issued and the five were asked to sign an agreement. The beneficiaries duly stated they were ready to construct their own homes with grants sanctioned under the scheme by meeting 10 per cent of the construction cost and each was to get Rs. 3 lakh in four instalments. On November 16, the BBMP kept its side of the agreement by disbursing the first instalment of Rs. 75,000. U-turn Soon after, in an about-turn, officials claimed that the communiqué had stated that the funds were to be released to the beneficiaries only after they submitted photographic evidence of the progress of work and demanded that the five return the money. Rame Gowda, Deputy Commissioner (Welfare), claimed that the communiqué was clear. “We cannot release funds in advance as there was scope for misuse.” Contesting this, M. Venkatesh, Bangalore District Convener, Dalit Bahujan Movement, told The Hindu that the communiqué clearly directed the officials to first release funds and then keep track of the work progress. “Where will poor people get funds to begin construction in the first place?” he asked. He lamented that the BBMP’s interpretation of the communiqué defeated the very purpose of the scheme which was to empower Dalits to exercise housing rights.
Last Updated on Saturday, 21 November 2009 02:55
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Where tradition meets urbanity
Monday, 16 November 2009 09:31
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The New Indian Express 16.11.2009Where tradition meets urbanity They are miles from home but still rooted to their tradition and culture. Girideepthi Tribal Hostel in Thrikkakara offers ample opportunities to the 51 boys lodged there to keep alive their unique traditions. The facilities provided to the students are far better than those in the government run tribal hostels. Dance and music form an integral part of the lifestyle of tribals. Passed on from generations through oral traditions these art forms encompass their philosophy of life. About how they live in tune with nature, the circling of the seasons, rituals and entertainment. Belonging to the Mannar, Muthuvan, Malayar and Ulladan tribal sects from Wayanad, Idukki and Munnar, these students get an opportunity to showcase their traditional songs and dance on Talent Day, which is held every week. “Performing these dances takes us to our huts that are exposed to wild animals and the vagaries of weather,” said a student who has adapted to the fast life during his stay at the hostel. Set up by the Mar Thoma Students’ Conference in 1984 with just four students, the hostel aims to provide better living condition to tribal children. “Our aim is to integrate those living in the forests with the others in society,” said Fr James Thomas, who is in charge of the hostel. Earlier parents were reluctant to send their children far away, but now they know the importance of education and that life in the city will help them become independent, said Joji, a tutor in the hostel. When asked if these students were losing out on their tradition and culture, Joji retorts, “We are not trying to change their culture. The students don’t benefit by living in the forests.” “If we leave them there, they might get involved in criminal activities, as most of their parents are daily wage workers and can’t afford to give them three meals a day. When the children come back from vacation, they are all skin and bone,” said Fr Thomas. To help them fit into this technology- driven world, these students are given computer lessons. ‘Equip the children’, an NGO, provides them spoken English classes and etiquette is taught by Anitha James or ‘kochamma’, the warden of the hostel. After completing school, most of them go into the construction field while a few return to their roots, but definitely equipped with education, confidence and skills to earn a living even as they keep their tradition alive.
Last Updated on Monday, 16 November 2009 10:21
Slum rehabilitation put on fast track
Saturday, 14 November 2009 11:11
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Hindustan Times 14.11.2009Slum rehabilitation put on fast track The slum rehabilitation scheme, which has been chugging along from the past decade, has now been put on the fast track. The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has cleared 135 new proposals in the past eight months. These projects will provide at least 40,000 families with new homes. This is a significant number considering the SRA had cleared hardly 50 proposals benefitting an average of 11,000 slum dwellers annually in the past 13 years. SS Zende, chief executive officer, SRA, said relaxed norms helped speed up the proposals. “We are offering fast track permissions as well as facilitating the registration of land in the names of slum dwellers,” said Zende. He said the improving real estate market had contributed to the spurt in slum revamp programmes. “This has helped quicken the process.” At least 1.2 lakh slum dwellers have been shifted to newly constructed houses in 13 years while another 1.5 lakh houses are currently being constructed across the city under the SRA. The Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party introduced the SRA to ensure a slum-free Mumbai. Under the scheme, slum dwellers — at least 70 per cent of them should be willing — appoint builders to rehabilitate them in flats on that land. The builder, in return, gets permission to build additional flats, which he can sell in the open market to make money. SRA projects have been mired in controversy right from the inception of the scheme. The main grievances were that the builders were coercing slum dwellers to give them development rights. The scheme also attracted vested political interests. The SRA’s high-powered committee set up by the high court has cleared 800 complaints in the past 10 months. “Most were minor issues like a few residents not being satisfied with the builder appointed. We managed to convince them,” said Zende. Experts say that the slum rehabilitation programme needs a complete rethink. “Most of the projects have been stuck due to vested interests,” said Pranab Datta, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India Limited, a leading real estate consultancy firm. “Since slum rehabilitation is a complex issue, which involves more than half of the city’s population, there should be holistic planning.”
Last Updated on Saturday, 14 November 2009 11:14
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The Corporation will help the disabled in providing financial support. He said that more funds will be allotted to help the disabled community in the next year's budget. Free bus passes were given to 9.40 lakh disabled persons at the cost of 7.5 crores, more passes will be issued at the cost of 15 crores shortly. 
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