Financial Institutions Told to Cooperate in AP's Mega Housing Scheme for Poor

Vijayawada: Ajay Jain, special chief secretary to the Housing Department, has urged financial and lending institutions to extend their support to the state government’s flagship mega housing programme, Navaratnalu PedalandarikiIllu.

A round table discussion was held on affordable housing in Andhra Pradesh, which was chaired by the special CS, in association with international organisation Habitat for Humanity India and the AP state housing corporation, supported by Village Reconstruction Organization (VRO) at the state housing corporation office here on Thursday.

Ajay Jain said the government has been giving top priority to housing for the poor with complete infrastructural facilities and ensuring the quality of construction. “The government is spending Rs.35,000 crore for infrastructure facilities like roads, water, electricity and drainage for Jagananna colonies. The Jalajeevan mission scheme is providing drinking water connections and DISCOMS is establishing electricity connections, he said.

The senior official also stated that the government distributed house pattas in the name of women beneficiaries and spent Rs.22,000 crore for the land. It approached the central government for sanction of houses in 2019 to 20022.

He said the central government sanctioned 22 lakhs houses for Andhra Pradesh and sanctioned Rs.33,000 crore for their construction. Of this, Rs.26,000 crore was utilized for this purpose by the state.

Ajay Jain said the grama ward village secretariat department was also playing a key role in identifying the beneficiaries and there was close monitoring by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy through the officials from time to time.

James Samuel, national director for Habitat Humanity India said the AP government has been giving top priority to construction of houses for the poor. “The late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy gave a top priority to housing for the poor and now his son is giving the same priority to providing roofs to the poor people,” he said.

He praised the government's efforts to construct houses for the poor in a big way.

D. Chakrapani, retired IAS officer and chairman of the village reconstruction organisation (VRO), said all the lending agencies shall concentrate on health care for the people and spread awareness on how to take precautions on family health care.

M Siva Prasad, Joint MD, Manohar Miriyala DGM national housing bank, Justin Jeba Kumar, director of Habitat for Humanity and others were present.