The Hindu      12.07.2016  

Houses for urban poor: Corpn. Council clears beneficiary list

 Nearly 500 economically backward people in the city are likely to have a roof above their head before March next.

The
Corporation Council on Monday cleared the beneficiary list of 3,166
persons, who have submitted their applications with supporting
documents. Houses will be built for the urban poor under the Pradhan
Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) launched by the Central government.

The
housing scheme is being projected as the biggest one being implemented
in the city since the Basic Services to the Urban Poor scheme launched
under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Of
the applicants, 73 per cent have their own land where homes would be
constructed, 11 per cent live as joint families and 16 per cent live in
rented houses.

Under the PMAY scheme, the target is to meet the “housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers.”

The
rehabilitation of “slum dwellers with participation of private
developers using land as a resource, promotion of affordable housing for
weaker section through credit-linked subsidy schemes, affordable
housing in partnership with public and private sector agencies” are some
of the objectives of the project.

The Ministry has
envisioned “all-weather single unit or a unit in a multi-storeyed super
structure having carpet area of up to 30 square metre with adequate
basic civic services and infrastructure services like toilet, water and
electricity” for the target group.

While
the Central government will spend Rs.47.49 crore, the State government,
urban local body (Kochi Corporation) and the beneficiaries together
will raise Rs.15.83 crore each for the housing scheme.

Complaints

Several
councillors demanded that the anomalies in the first list of
beneficiaries should be rectified before sending it to the authorities
for approval. The list will have to be submitted to the Centre through
the State government. K.J. Antony, the leader of the LDF in the council,
demanded that the eligible candidates from the socially marginalised
sections should find place in the list.

Replying to
the debate, Mayor Soumini Jain said the first list, which was drawn up
after a series of deliberations and consultations, shall be forwarded to
the authorities. The case of other eligible beneficiaries shall be
taken up during the next phase of implementation of the project, she
said.

Houses will be built for the urban poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana launched by the Central government