Housing Scheme : Dehousing The Urban Poor

Seram Neken *

A beneficiary family staying inside incomplete house : Pix - TSE

Red tapism has tarnished the image of the centrally sponsored schemes in Manipur. Basic services to urban poor do not reach the beneficiaries in time due to negligence of MAHUD authorities. The Urban Housing Scheme under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) has been harassing the poor beneficiaries for the last one year.

"On being selected as a beneficiary of urban housing scheme under JnNURM, I dismantled my old dilapidated house and shifted my family to a rented building. I borrowed money on interest to start construction of a new one with an anticipated reimbursement by the government. After first and second installments, the third installment has been unduly delayed by the authority. As the construction is far from completion, my family is now without proper shelter. Moreover, I am in a huge debt. The housing scheme of JnNURM has made me homeless and impoverished." An anonymous beneficiary of the scheme lamented in desperation.

In fact, the poor beneficiaries of urban housing scheme under JnNURM are facing a tough situation. In anticipation of timely reimbursement from the government, they removed their dwelling and started construction of their houses by borrowing money from others. As the state government has not released their pending grants in time, they are suffering like anything. In addition to the problem of shelter, the poor beneficiaries are facing a huge debt. This is due to the negligence of state MAHUD authorities that the urban housing beneficiaries are toiling for more than a year.

In April 2011, the state government selected 1133 beneficiaries of the 27 wards of Imphal Municipal Council for construction of houses under the centrally sponsored scheme of Basic Services to Urban Poor. A memorandum of agreement was signed between the beneficiaries and the Imphal Municipal Council around June the same year. The Imphal Municipal Council is to provide necessary technical assistance and supervision during the construction of the houses.

As per the agreement, the construction of houses is to be completed within a period of 15 months. The release of financial assistance is to be made in four installments and in the form of reimbursement. 25 percent of the total grant is to be released on completion of foundation upto plinth level. Another installment is to be paid after completion of superstructure upto roof level. The third installment is to be released on completion of roofing and last one after completion of the construction in all respects.

Each beneficiary is entitled to get financial assistance to the tune of nearly three lakhs rupees for the construction of its house. Ten percent of the cost of construction has to be borne by the beneficiaries. The first installment of around seventy two thousand rupees was released by June-July 2011 and second installment was also paid by April-May 2012. The third and fourth installments are still pending. The ideal project of city development has been ruined by the inefficient implementation of the Imphal Municipal Council.

Besides delayed release of grants, the concerned staffs also reportedly charge bribes for expediting reimbursement process for the beneficiaries. In contravention of the memorandum of agreement, the time period for construction has almost completed twenty months as of now. Frequent strike in the Imphal Municipal Council is one reason for non-release of funds.

With the inordinate delay in implementation, many useful basic schemes have been reduced to a farce. The plight of poor beneficiaries is being aggravated by the housing scheme. The amount of grant also needs to be increased considering the steep rise of prices of construction materials.

In view of the hardships facing the homeless beneficiaries, the government may release the pending third installment to the beneficiaries who have completed their formalities. The local MLAs and Ward Councilors concerned may also take initiative to redress the grievances of such beneficiaries. With the active and sincere implementation of state government machineries, the poor masses will be able to feel the beauty of centrally sponsored schemes.

VOICE OF THE WEEK

Housing scheme is apparently dehousing the poor. The authorities of MAHUD (Municipal Administration, Housing & Urban Development) may hear the grievances of the beneficiaries of Urban Housing Scheme under JnNURM. The construction of their shelter needs to be completed before the seasonal rain comes.

Pending reimbursement for third installment may urgently be paid to the poor beneficiaries who have completed their formalities. Moreover, increase in amount of grant may also be considered in view of rise of prices of materials.