Special housing scheme for middle-class needed urgently
(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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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