Special housing scheme for middle-class needed urgently

• Land prices skyrocketed compared to 2014

• Owning a dream home gets tougher!

• Homes not affordable even for government employees

• Similar situation for private employees as well

• Flats need not be given for free, but must be affordable

• Better to stop land auction, take up construction of affordable luxury

(King Johnson Koyyada)

Though Telangana is the youngest State in India, it has many achievements. Hence, national and international organisations are lining up to invest in Telangana. But for unknown reasons, the State government did not focus on fulfilling the dream of own home for the middle class people. As a result, all of them could not realise their dream of owning a home in Hyderabad since the formation of Telangana State. One of the main reasons is that land prices have skyrocketed and are beyond the reach of the middle class families. In this context, to fulfill the dream of government and private employees, the focus should be on starting a new housing scheme especially for the middle class people. If executed successfully, the BRS would show the way for the nation once again.

• The Centre has failed miserably in fulfilling its promise of “Housing for All” by 2022. Except for the numbers visible on the papers, the happiness of owning a house has not been realised fully. The Housing for All scheme, which started in 2015 amid great fanfare, has since changed it’s shape but has not achieved the expected results. Without considering expert opinions or taking the necessary decisions for the success of this scheme, the successive governments have failed to provide affordable housing and forcing the middle class people of the country to languish in rented houses. It is high time that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao studies and analyses the issue to come up with a solution in his inimitable manner.
  

  Neither can buy nor build!

  The State government is constructing double bedroom houses for the poor in Hyderabad and other cities of Telangana State. About two lakh houses are likely to be handed over to the poor before the upcoming elections in December this year. While the rich including industrialists, businessmen, professionals and NRIs among others can buy a house on their own, the poor have multiple housing schemes. But the major issue lies with the middle class people where they cannot afford to purchase big houses or stay in double bedroom flats forever. A large percentage of employees working in government and private organisations still depend on their monthly salary and hence, are forced to live in rented houses. Considering the staggering increase in property prices compared to 2014, they cannot even afford to purchase a flat now. They are not eligible to get a flat under weaker section housing schemes and also cannot stay there considering the flat size, even if they are willing to. Not so surprisingly, their number is high which raises the urgent need to start a housing scheme for them.

  BRS and its great achievements

  During his tenure, late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy launched Rajiv Swagruha to provide quality and affordable flats for lesser than market prices. Though construction of flats was taken up in many areas, it was stopped abruptly when he died. Even eight years after Telangana formation, the officials are still struggling to sell those flats which highlights the gaping holes in the government schemes and their probability to fail. But how to fulfill the dream of the middle class people? Is there any other way? The Telangana government has made many impossible tasks possible. Even though it is the youngest State, it is credited for providing uninterrupted power supply, drinking water to every household and also successfully implementing schemes like Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Kalyanalakshmi and Kantivelugu among others. So why not the State government coming up with a scheme to realise the dream of the middle class people? The government must take an innovative approach, in this regard.

• What should be done?
• Currently 8.5 lakh IT professionals are working in various companies in Hyderabad’s IT sector. The flat prices have increased to such an extent that half of them do not even dare to dream to buy a flat. The situation is so bad that unless both the husband and wife are working as well as get financial support from parents or in-laws, they cannot buy a property in Hyderabad. Under these circumstances, the State government should consider building flats for the middle class in government lands. Some might think it is not possible, but it may be noted that even during the Covid pandemic, the State government has the credit of developing the roads in Hyderabad even as the entire world shut itself. Hence, the State government should mull over it.* Efforts are being made to develop areas like Kokapet into a Hitec City-2.0 version. Hence, it would be great if the government plans to develop affordable housing/flats for the middle class in the surrounding areas. The State government can also consider handing over the government lands to private developers and take up construction of apartments on Public-Private Partnership basis. Thus, quality and affordable construction can be ensured.
  

  Turn farmers into development partners!

  If the government increases the size of the flats, designs the elevations and develops facilities required for the people, the dream of the middle class people to own a house will be fulfilled easily. The government can pool agricultural lands from farmers in the suburbs and offer them a share in the developed land, while the remaining land can be handed over to the builders for construction of affordable houses. It can also consider developing commercial complexes and other amenities where the land owners or farmers get regular rentals. Thus, farmers get better price for their land, builders get land for their projects, people get houses for affordable price and even the government can earn good revenue, making it a win-win situation for all.

  Need Rs 1 crore 

  A double bedroom flat in any corner of Hyderabad Metro City would currently cost not less than Rs 1 crore. For a triple bedroom flat, one has to spend nearly Rs 1.5 crore. While many cannot afford such huge sums, the State government is yet to come up with a housing scheme for them.

  People who don’t need it! 

  Some government employees are able to get their pockets filled, without even asking for it. People come running to them and place bags full of cash in their vehicles parked outside KBR Park or any other park, to get their work done. But not all those working in the government offices are corrupt and rely only on salaries for living. Hence, the government must consider their woes as well.