Free house plan for conservancy staff taking shape

In a relief to thousands of conservancy staff of municipal corporations and councils in the state who live and work in pathetic conditions, efforts by the state to provide them with better living conditions have taken a formal shape.

In a relief to thousands of conservancy staff of municipal corporations and councils in the state who live and work in pathetic conditions, efforts by the state to provide them with better living conditions have taken a formal shape. A government resolution has been passed directing civic bodies to provide free houses, with a carpet area of 269 sq ft, to conservancy staff who have put in 25 or more years of service.

But many disagree with the condition 8212; 25 years of service.

Under the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Shramsafalya Avas Yojana, permanent houses will be provided to them at the time of retirement and in case a worker dies during service period, his/her heir or close relative is entitled to own the house, which will be non-transferable.

The state8217;s decision came after a sustained campaign by The Indian Express in October 2007, highlighting the pathetic working conditions of conservancy staff in the city. The state announcement had come on September 18 after a cabinet meeting.

In a notification issued by the state urban development secretary Manu Kumar Srivastava on October 22, the government said it would reserve 15 per cent of the houses in existing projects 8212; Low Income Group housing, Integrated Housing and Slums Development Programme IHSDP, Basic Services to the Urban Poor BSUP and surplus flats generated under the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme 8212; for conservancy workers.

In case the civic bodies do not have land available for these projects, the state government has asked them to acquire government-owned surplus land, which was released after the repeal of the Urban Land Ceiling Act ULC and directed the revenue and forest departments to release their land for the purpose at nominal rates.

All local bodies have been directed to reserve five per cent of their budgetary provision for the weaker section each year for the purpose of constructing houses for conservancy workers. The state government will also release funds for such projects as and when required.

It also states that if the civic body decides to implement a mass housing project for such workers on its land or on land owned by the state, then the project will be granted a maximum Floor Space Index FSI of four. If the same project is carried out through a private builder, he will be allowed 50 per cent of the total built up area as his incentive FSI.

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Meanwhile, a corporator in Pune Municipal Corporation PMC, Dr Siddharth Dhende, has demanded the removal of the 25-year service period as condition for the scheme. 8220;Once a conservancy worker completes 25 years of service, the allowance given for working in miserable conditions is stopped. Therefore, all the conservancy workers, who are in service presently, should be provided free housing under the scheme,8221; Dhende said.

8220;Secondly, if private developers are allowed 50 per cent of the total built up area as incentive FSI under the scheme, conservancy workers should be provided a housing of 400 sq ft instead of the 269 sq ft carpet area as mentioned in the state resolution,8221; he added.