HYDERABAD: Applicants for the 2BHK houses in the city staged a sit-in protest at the GHMC headquarters from the morning till 2 pm on Monday but left the spot with no assurance from the authorities that they would be getting anything soon.
A majority of the protesters were women from marginalised sections or those who have been widowed and have children to care for. They said they had applied for the scheme before the lockdown for the Covid-19 pandemic and questioned why they were not shortlisted. They cited instances where applicants from later dates were allotted 2 BHK houses.
They asked how the government could justify constructing only one lakh houses, given that there were seven lakh applicants for the 2BHK houses.
The protesters, supported by Left parties, gave a representation to GHMC authorities before ending their demonstration.
Kalavathi, a protester from Old Bowenpally, said: “I applied when this scheme was announced and since then, we have been hoping to get a house. I lost my husband to the second wave of Covid-19 and I am facing difficulties in taking care of children. The government should come forward and give us some assurance.”
Suvarna, a resident of Bordabanda, who works as a daily-wage labourer, said: “We applied prior to the Covid-19 lockdown and have been residing in rented houses. I am a widow and I have two daughters. Paying rent and raising my daughters is a difficult task. If we don’t get a house in this edition of 2BHK house distributions, we will never get them.”
Navanitha, an aspirant, questioned, “When the applications are around seven lahks, and one lakh homes are ready, on what basis is the distribution being done by the authorities? They should give a clear answer. I have two daughters and a son, and my husband works as a carpenter, so it’s difficult to make ends meet. The government should make things clear to us.”
