Telangana: Indiramma Housing Scheme faces major implementation issues

The Indiramma Indlu housing scheme in Telangana is under fire for flawed beneficiary selection, delays in fund release, and allegations of favouritism. Over 41 lakh applicants were disqualified, while protests erupted over exclusions and new restrictions on house size

Hyderabad: The Congress government‘s flagship Indiramma Indlu housing scheme is facing widespread criticism over serious lapses in implementation. From flawed beneficiary selection to changes in eligibility norms and delays in fund disbursement, the programme is plagued by mounting complaints.

Initially, the government promised 3,500 houses in each of the 119 Assembly constituencies. However, under Phase I, the scheme was restricted to just one village per mandal. During the Praja Palana application drive, nearly 80 lakh applications were received—23.25 lakh from urban areas and 57.25 lakh from rural regions.

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Shockingly, over 53% of applicants were declared ineligible. Of the 80 lakh applications, 36 lakh were approved, while 41.15 lakh were rejected on grounds including Below Poverty Line (BPL) norms and other eligibility criteria. This has sparked discontent among several sections.

There are also complaints that Congress party workers are being prioritised during Gram Sabha screenings. In Royyalapally village (Mancherial), a labourer named Ravinder, initially deemed eligible, had his name dropped from the final list of 27 beneficiaries. Distraught, he attempted suicide by consuming pesticide. He is currently hospitalised and stable.

Similar protests have erupted in Munigalaveedu (Mahabubabad), where villagers accused officials of excluding genuine beneficiaries and including ineligible persons. In Govindapuram (Khammam), locals alleged that all 24 sanctioned houses were allotted to Congress workers, sidelining deserving applicants.

Under the revised rollout, the scheme covers 70,122 houses State-wide. Of these, 46,000 have been approved and nearly 16,000 beneficiaries have begun construction. The government has committed Rs 5 lakh per house, released in four instalments based on construction progress. So far, around 2,800 beneficiaries have received the first tranche.

While beneficiaries were earlier allowed flexibility in design and area, new guidelines now cap house size at 600 sq ft. Homes exceeding this limit are being denied funding as they do not meet Central government specifications, stalling disbursement for many.