Another of Congress’ Six Guarantees in Telangana, ‘Indiramma Houses’ remains on paper

The officials are tight-lipped over sharing the details of Indiramma Committee constituted so far in the State and the beneficiaries shortlisted under the scheme.

Hyderabad: The Congress government’s assurances to extend Indiramma Indlu (houses) to the poor and needy continues to be delayed, leaving the aspirants restless.

On November 2, Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said Grama Sabhas would be conducted in all the villages from November 6 to 20 to finalise the eligible beneficiaries for the Indiramma houses. Efforts would be made to commence the works by November 25, he had said. These deadlines have gone by, with nothing much happening.

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As per GOMs 33, each Indiramma Committee would have seven members, including Sarpanch or Gram Panchayat Special Officer (in rural areas) and Ward Councillor or Corporator (in urban areas). As per the GO, the State government has ordered the district Collectors to take necessary steps for constituting the Indiramma Committees by October 12.

The officials are tight-lipped over sharing the details of Indiramma Committee constituted so far in the State and the beneficiaries shortlisted under the scheme. There was also an uproar over the selection of members for Indiramma Committees with many complaining that only Congress affiliated persons were given priority.

The Indiramma Indlu scheme was launched with much fanfare at Bhadradri Kothagudem in March this year. Initially, announcements were made to offer Indiramma Indlu by Diwali. However, the Housing Minister had said the exercise to commence the Indiramma houses works would commence by November 25. He had said that the houses would be initially given only to those who own house plots and subsequently to those who do not have their own plots. This would be followed with allotment of plots, besides extending financial assistance.

The Centre’s help would also be sought for construction of the houses. In Urban areas, the Centre would extend Rs.1.5 lakh and in rural areas, it would be Rs.75,000. Irrespective of the Centre’s assistance, the State government was committed to construct the houses, he had said.

“If the Centre insists on having its branding on the houses, we will approve without any ego,” Srinivas Reddy had said, announcing that both the BJP union Ministers from the State would be invited for the inaugural ceremony.

The government was also developing a mobile app to select eligible candidates and monitor the process of releasing funds and construction of houses. Further, for the smooth processing of applications, staff members of 16 departments were to be brought together under the scheme.

As many as 80 lakh applications were filed by people for Indiramma houses during the Praja Palana applications programme across the State during last December. Of the 80 lakh, 23.25 lakh were filed from urban areas and nearly 57.25 from rural areas.

The State government had declared that in the next four years, 20 lakh Indiramma houses would be sanctioned and each beneficiary would be offered Rs.5 lakh assistance in four stages through bank transfers. It was estimated that it would cost Rs.28,000 crore for the first phase and of this, Rs.7,740 crore was already allocated in the State budget.