Indian Express 02.08.2010
No more urban poor, govt seeks other criteria to give away flats
Lalmani Verma Tags : housing, poor Posted: Mon Aug 02 2010, 01:57 hrs
Lucknow: Despite relaxing eligibility norms repeatedly, the state government is yet to find enough urban poor for the thousands of flats constructed in the first phase of Kanshiram Shahri Garib Awas Yojna.The scheme was announced by Chief Minister Mayawati in 2008 and in its first phase ¿ 2008-09 — over 1.01 lakh houses were to be constructed for the urban poor in 71 districts. But so far, only 98,338 flats have been constructed of which, 86,809 have been allotted. Now the state government has asked the concerned district magistrates to suggest relaxations in eligibility norms or steps that can be taken to find beneficiaries for the vacant flats.
Directives in this regard have been sent to districts including Mirzapur, Azamgarh, Bulandshahr, Ramabai Nagar, Aligarh, Jalaun, Mahoba, Lalitpur, Hamirpur, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Pilibhit and Saharanpur. In Mahoba, 1,500 flats have been constructed but only 830 flats have been allotted so far.
“The government has asked for necessary steps could be taken to increase the beneficiaries,” said Ravindra Kumar, Additional District Magistrate, Mahoba. “After 830, we have found another 512 beneficiaries but still have 160 vacant flats. With no more applications pending, we are now going to start a door-to-door survey to identify the poor in urban areas.” In just one lakh urban population of Mahoba, it is tough to identify the poor as per the eligibility criteria of the scheme, he added.In Sant Ravidas Nagar, of the 1,500 flats constructed only 802 have been allotted. “We have recently found 150 beneficiaries but almost 500 will remain unallotted,” said District Magistrate Kanchan Verma.
“I have suggested that the government give the unallotted houses to poor widows and men living alone in rural areas,” she said. In Azamgarh, only 852 flats have been allotted so far against the 1,500 built. District Magistrate Manish Chauhan said: “We are facing a problem in finding urban poor in small town like Azamgarh. I have suggested to the state government that the unallotted flats be given to widows and physically-challenged persons even if they do not belong to the BPL category.”
So far, people living within municipal limits have been eligible for this scheme. “I have also recommended that the government permit the residents of Azamgarh Development Authority development area to apply under this scheme,” he said. A senior official in the government said as per the suggestions of the DMs, a proposal will be sent to the Chief Minister’s office, seeking further directives.
ALLOTTED SO FAR
Against the 1,500 flats constructed in each district
* 924 flats have been allotted in Pilibhit
* 1,015 in Jalaun
* 1,203 in Badaun
* 1,280 in Faizabad
* 1,064 in Mirzapur
* 1,320 in Barabanki
* 1,031 in Lalitpur
* 1,021 in Hamirpur
* 1,100 in Kanshiram Nagar
* 1,060 in Bulandshahr
* 758 in Saharanpur
* 1,080 each in Balia and Mau
* In Ramabai Nagar, 1,000 flats were constructed but only 521 have been allotted
