Ahmedabad, 31 July 2012

In a joint press conference convened today at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, Ahmedabad, GPCC President Mr.Arjun Modhwadiya, Mr.Shaktisinh Gohil – Congress Legislative Party Leader and Mr.Shankarsinh Vaghela, Chairman of Election Campaign Committee, announced 2nd point of 12 points to be declared under “Gujarat Praja Vikas Darshan-2012” and stated that in the State Legislative Assembly Election-2012 to be held in December, 2012, Congress party will emerge as winner and after forming the Government, Congress party will make available “her own home” to women of Gujarat.

The Congress leaders, making public resolution of he Congress Party for people of Gujarat who are hailing from lower and middle income group of the State,
stated that the Congress Party has resolved to provide “her own home” to women living within 8 municipal corporations and 159 municipalities in her name only. Keeping in view income and other criteria i.e. other properties-land in the name of beneficiaries, it has been decided that –

(1) Under Category “A” – the lower income family will be provided with a residential unit admeasuring 278 sq.ft. super built-up consisting of one room, kitchen and toilet on payment of Rs.70,000/- only. Remaining amount of unit cost shall have to be paid in installments with lower rates of interest.

(2) Under Category “B” – the lower income family will be provided with a residential unit (1 BHK) admeasuring 543 sq.ft. super built-up consisting of one room, kitchen and toilet on payment of Rs.1,00,000/- only. Remaining amount of unit cost shall have to be paid in installments with lower rates of interest.

(3) Under Category “C” – the middle income families will be provided with a residential unit admeasuring 857 sq.ft. super built-up (2BHK) consisting of one room, kitchen and toilet on payment of Rs.1,80,000/- only. Remaining amount of unit cost shall have to be paid in installments with lower rates of interest.

It is stated that under this Scheme, all the housewives of homeless families will be provided with residential unit at affordable price. Cost of land will be fully waived. Only construction cost will have to be paid and that too with facility of lower interest loans for 15 years tenure without margin money. At least 3,00,000 such units would be constructed every year. Allotment of such units will be made with total transparency by drawing lot out of received applications. This new scheme of Congress Government will be in addition to the existing schemes of State Government sponsored by Central Government like Indira Awas Yojana.

Announcing this resolution of the Congress party, the leaders stated that the land is natural resource and property of the State. The Constitution of India has enshrined fundamental rights of citizens to utilize this land for residence, agricultural, forest, grazing and other purposes. Congress Governments maintained such rights intact. The prices of land were at reasonable level due to balanced policy of the Governments. There was no speculations. The Jantri rates were reasonable.

According to Census-2011, there are 1,21,81,718 premises are available in Gujarat for residence and other facilities available to the families out of which 16,49,636 families reside in rented premises, meaning thereby, 24.30% population is residing in rented houses.

Similarly, 1,86,411 buildings are not fit to live in. Several families are taking shelter in makeshift and ceiling-less buildings. Once Congress party comes to power in the State, it would be on the top priority of Congress party to make available residences to such homeless citizens.

The Congress Government constituted organization like Gujarat Housing Board and thereby made available 1,76,830 residential units to poor and middle class people at affordable rates. The present BJP Government has made this Gujarat Housing Board, Slum Clearance Board non-functional. During the Congress rule, more particularly during 1990 to 1995, more than one lakh plots of 25 sq.mtrs. each were allotted to the beneficiaries at a cost of Rs.250/- in cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat for constructing houses. Even today, total land admeasuring 25 lakh sq.mtrs. has remained unutilized within various municipal corporation and municipal area which belong to Gujarat Housing Board. Same has also not been put to any use. So far as rural areas are concerned, residential premises were being constructed through Rural Housing Board in rural areas and through Halpati Awas Yojana in South Gujarat. BJP Government has discontinued this scheme. The Scheme of allotment of 100 sq.yards plot in villages has also been discontinued by the BJP Government.

Also read: Fake poll promises of Congress, says Gujarat government

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