SHRI MAHARIA CALLS
FOR MORE PRIVATE SECTOR COOPERATION IN RURAL HOUSING
Shri Subhash Maharia, Minister of State for Rural
Development said that rural housing is a serious problem and should
be addressed with commitment and urgency. He underlined the need
for more private sector cooperation in rural housing to meet the
challenge. Addressing the valedictory session of National Workshop
on Rural Housing and Habitat Development in New Delhi today, Shri
Maharia said that the housing shortage between 1997 and 2002 is
estimated at 187.70 lakh houses. Of this, 84.60 lakh would be
new houses while 103.10 lakh kutcha unserviceable houses would
be requiring upgradation. He said the aid is not reaching the
most needy and helpless of the rural poor, and the beneficiaries
should be identified by the Gram Sabhas and distribution of funds
to the beneficiaries should also be made through the Gram Panchayats.
Shri Maharia recommended for proper training
of artisans connected with house building and further development
and improvement upon traditional house building technologies and
skills. He urged upon Panchayati Raj Institutions to play a more
constructive role in the implementation of the housing programmes
by involving in information dissemination, pre-construction inspection,
verification of houses and sites, supplying skilled manpower and
low cost technology as well as monitoring the actual implementation
of the scheme. He said people can no longer depend entirely on
government subsidies to meet their needs and we should encourage
and promote self Help Groups for people’s participation in rural
housing sector. He also said that a Guarantee Fund can be created
from which credit for building houses can be given to the rural
poor. He said a Rural Housing Financial Corporation can also be
set up.
Shri Maharia appreciated the work done by the
housing department in this regard. He said that all funds to the
states have been utilised, and there is demand for more. He said
cultural and traditional preferences of local populace ought to
be respected while preparing and disseminating type designs of
houses
The workshop was organized by the Ministry of
Rural Development in collaboration with the Council for Advancement
of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) to focus on the
issues facing the rural housing sector. Senior officials and NGO’s
from several states and representatives from financial institutions
participated in the two-day workshop.
