CHENNAI: Electoral rolls and ration cards will be the basis for the identification of beneficiaries under the proposed Kalaignar Housing Scheme to be implemented in rural areas.
The documents have been chosen in view of their authenticity, according to a senior government official.
Addressing a function at Veeramachanpatti near Thuraiyur on Friday, Transport Minister K.N. Nehru announced that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi would inaugurate the Scheme in Tiruchi on March 3.
On an average, huts or temporary houses with mud walls and thatched roof account for 33 per cent of the rural houses. In districts such as Villupuram and Cuddalore, the share of such houses is in the range of 55 per cent to 57 per cent. Totally, there are about 26.6 lakh huts, identified as temporary houses.
The scheme envisages conversion of such houses into concrete-roofed permanent houses. It will be executed in six years, starting from 2010-2011, covering 21 lakh houses totally. The size of each house will be 200 sq. ft.
The official explains that the figure of 21 lakh houses has been arrived at, taking into account factors such as coverage under the Central scheme of Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) by 2016-2017. Normally, 70,000 houses are built under the IAY. As a special case, during 2009-2010, 1.35 lakh houses have been taken up.
Lack of housing is a clear indicator of poverty. As the IAY essentially covers Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, this has given a room for social tension in villages. The scheme has been conceptualised to address the issue, the official says, adding that the selection of beneficiaries will be fair and transparent.
Pointing out that most of the norms being followed in the case of IAY will be adopted in respect of the new scheme too, the official says there will be no cash component.
The assistance will be in the form of material, including cement and steel. To ensure proper implementation, the government is toying with the idea of a third party validation.
Noting that the scheme will be funded purely by the State government, he says adequate funds will be made available. Major schemes such as the distribution of colour television sets, Anathiu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam and the allocation for compensating cooperative societies for loan waiver will be over by next year.
This will result in savings of nearly Rs.2,000 crore a year.
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