Slum dwellers to pay housing rent?
Agencies: Mumbai, Oct 10 2012, 10:20 IST
Concerned over the loss the state exchequer may suffer due to allocating free houses to slum dwellers till 2000, the Maharashtra government is mulling over framing a policy whereby the slum dwellers will have to pay for the cost of housing.
"We had taken an unfortunate decision of giving free houses to slum dwellers. It is now difficult to uphold that plan. We are planning to bring some policy that will make these people (slum dwellers) pay for it (the housing)," Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said at an event here yesterday.
The policy will be in line with that for mill workers, according to which, housing was provided to them at affordable rates on a no-profit-no-loss basis.
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) in June allotted low-cost houses to 6,925 mill workers at a subsidised price of Rs 4.81 lakh to Rs 9.35 lakh.
In January, the government had decided to provide free housing to all slum dwellers up to 2000.
"There are nearly 14.6 lakh slum dwellers in Mumbai. If we take the case of (slums in) Bandra-Kurla Complex (area), the cost of each slum is around Rs 1 crore. It is this kind of value of the area and it is very unfortunate that we took a decision to provide free houses to them," he said.
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Reader's Comments (6)| Post a Comment
Slum dwellers to pay housing rent?
abbas ali | 10-Oct-2012Reply | Forward This foot in the mouth disease has to stop. The Government promises the moon, and then backtracks, not caring it will damage their image no end. Housing, Electricity, Water, and other resources should not be given free, except in times of war, internal disturbance, or calamities like acts of God. As the majority of Mumbaikars are living in slums, around 60% of them, they should be giving decent self contained housing on rent so that they can carry on with their lives in better living conditions. Water, Sewage, Electricity, should be provided, and charges for the weaker sections should be levied on them. These people are not freeloaders, they serve the society in menial jobs, and other blue collar jobs which keep the city and state running smoothly. They are in the unorganised sector of watchmen, housemaids, factory packers, bakery and restaurant workers, labourers, masons, etc. They have no safety net, no medical insurance, etc. Therefore, they should not be neglected.Pay by right users
Ramnarayanan | 10-Oct-2012Reply | Forward Welcomable option by the Govt, since no original allotee is residing in the flat allotted to them. So this proposal will definitely reduce the fake users and also will reduce the financial strain for maintaining the property.get rid of them
kareem | 10-Oct-2012Reply | Forward first and foremost, why is the municipality giving away house to these land grabbers, who has no claim on the land they are staying. its high time all these slums are destroyed and the land is utilized for better purpose. don't sit back and listen all the rubbish people have to say. politicians are the main culprit in allotting these land for vote purpose. just throw them back to where they have come. i would show no mercy. they mess up the beauty of bombay. enough is enough and all you loud mouths out there think you care about them, then take them in your own home and shelter them. stop giving extra comments. and please don't show your ugly sympathy, we all know how you care about them.. so please shut up. these people are nuisance in society.
Slum dwellers to pay housing rent?
abbas ali | 10-Oct-2012Reply | Forward You are talking about the poor of India, but your arrogance and lack of understanding of the situation is appalling. I agree the Government should not have promised to give them free housing, giving things for free is not advisable in this case, they should be made to pay nominal rent which would suffice. These people are of the service sector, serving all those who stay in Bombay, or Maharashtra. They serve a very important role, they are not freeloaders as you feel. They are blue collar workers, in the unregulated sector, daily wage workers, working in food stalls, bakeries, small scale industries, tailoring sector, masons, carpenters, loaders, etc., all who contribute to the progress and economic growth of the State as well as the country. They have no insurance, no medical support, no safety net, to tide them over hard times. When we talk of all inclusive growth, it means they are also included. So be more understanding towards your fellow citizens who are not as fortunate as yourself.
Slum dwellers to pay housing rent?
abbas ali | 10-Oct-2012Reply | Forward You are talking about the poor of India, but your arrogance and lack of understanding of the situation is appalling. I agree the Government should not have promised to give them free housing, giving things for free is not advisable in this case, they should be made to pay nominal rent which would suffice. These people are of the service sector, serving all those who stay in Bombay, or Maharashtra. They serve a very important role, they are not freeloaders as you feel. They are blue collar workers, in the unregulated sector, daily wage workers, working in food stalls, bakeries, small scale industries, tailoring sector, masons, carpenters, loaders, etc., all who contribute to the progress and economic growth of the State as well as the country. They have no insurance, no medical support, no safety net, to tide them over hard times. When we talk of all inclusive growth, it means they are also included. So be more understanding towards your fellow citizens who are not as fortunate as yourself.
