Homes for low income migrants
Union ministry suggests provision of 40000 homes for low income migrants
The union Urban Development ministry has recently suggested that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) should mandate itself to build 40,000 units per year for the low-income migrants who struggle for a roof above their heads. According to the proposal, a migrant who would have otherwise moved to a slum, should be given a small flat in rent before he is motivated to buy that flat. And this will be possible with Central government subsidies. This will also help check slum dwelling.
Urban development secretary M Ramachandran said that such a proposal is in an initial stage. “On an average, at least 40,000 people migrate to Delhi every year. The spread of slums needs to be checked and such a move can be of great help in doing so. The DDA has no problem of resources, hence taking up this initiative should come easy,” he said. The suggestion is quite novel in itself as it will motivate rent payers to be owners of the property later. “Initially they can pay a nominal rent as they will not immediately have the funds. But, eventually, the idea is to encourage them to own the property,” adds Mr Ramachandran.
Raminder Grover, CEO, Homebay Residential of global real estate consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj (JLLM), said that such affordable housing would in many cases help weed out the slums. “Slum dwellers can be assigned suitable living spaces while the remaining units can be sold at subsidised rates. It can be quite a useful model.” In fact, the government is offering developers considerable incentives via single-window clearances, reduced taxation and infrastructure enablement if they want to build affordable homes. The DDA’s ambitious plan to develop 6,000 flats for the mid-income segment also met with an overwhelming response.
The union Urban Development ministry has recently suggested that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) should mandate itself to build 40,000 units per year for the low-income migrants who struggle for a roof above their heads. According to the proposal, a migrant who would have otherwise moved to a slum, should be given a small flat in rent before he is motivated to buy that flat. And this will be possible with Central government subsidies. This will also help check slum dwelling.
Urban development secretary M Ramachandran said that such a proposal is in an initial stage. “On an average, at least 40,000 people migrate to Delhi every year. The spread of slums needs to be checked and such a move can be of great help in doing so. The DDA has no problem of resources, hence taking up this initiative should come easy,” he said. The suggestion is quite novel in itself as it will motivate rent payers to be owners of the property later. “Initially they can pay a nominal rent as they will not immediately have the funds. But, eventually, the idea is to encourage them to own the property,” adds Mr Ramachandran.
Raminder Grover, CEO, Homebay Residential of global real estate consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj (JLLM), said that such affordable housing would in many cases help weed out the slums. “Slum dwellers can be assigned suitable living spaces while the remaining units can be sold at subsidised rates. It can be quite a useful model.” In fact, the government is offering developers considerable incentives via single-window clearances, reduced taxation and infrastructure enablement if they want to build affordable homes. The DDA’s ambitious plan to develop 6,000 flats for the mid-income segment also met with an overwhelming response.