An allocation of Rs 4,000 crore has been sought in the 2012-13 budget for providing housing facilities in Karnataka. A survey has revealed nine lakh poor without a roof over their head in the State.
In order to provide housing for these sections, the State government has sanctioned construction of 6.4 lakh houses during 2011-12.
The survey has been conducted in the background of Rajiv Gandhi housing scheme, Ambedkar and Indira Awaz housing scheme of the Government of India, under implementation. Similarly, Karnataka government’s Basava housing scheme is in force since a year and half back.
According to housing Minister V.Somanna, Rs 50,000 will be made available in four instalments to the identified poor directly to build houses. The beneficiaries will receive the amount directly to overcome harassment at the hands of mediators.
There will be no discrimination of any sort in identifying the beneficiaries, he said, while inaugurating distribution of title deeds of 9,000 houses in the Varuna Assembly constituency of Mysore district on Tuesday.
He also said, it is proposed to construct 56,000 houses under these schemes and sanction is already given for construction of 20,000 houses. Of these, 9,000 houses are sanctioned for Varuna Assembly constituency. About 57,000 people are identified as houseless.
He called upon officials to ensure that housing benefits reached the deserving poor without any discrimination or harassment. Then only, the schemes would have meaningful benefit for the poor. He intended to make Karnataka stand first in providing housing facilities. It was now in second position in the country, he said.
Chamarajanagar MP R Dhruvanarayan urged for separate allocation for construction of toilets while sanctioning money for house construction. He pointed out that the government provided Rs 3,100 for construction of toilets. If Gram Sabhas were conducted at the Gram Panchayats, the government welfare schemes would see effective implementation, he said. Those gram panchayats which completed housing works within the stipulated time would receive Rs 5 lakh as incentive, announced Mysore district incharge Minister S A Ramadas. Meanwhile, opposition leader Siddaramaiah has urged the state government to double the amount given for house construction, from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
Handing over title deeds of houses at Hosakote village in Nanjangud taluk under the Basava housing scheme, he said Rs 50,000 presently given was insufficient to build a house, as prices had risen. This, therefore, needed to be doubled.
Despite the government distributing two lakh houses each year, the number of houseless was increasing in the State.
“How much we grow is not important, but whether all are getting food is more important. Similarly, we should ensure other benefits too reach the poor and the working class. Then only democracy will have meaning,” said the Chamundeswari MLA pointing out that the Centre provided Rs 25,000 crore to the states for implementation of welfare schemes.
Siddaramaiah demanded stern action against illegal exploitation of sand in the district.
