Unique housing project for the differently abled

Talking to Express Newsline Shah stressed the need to create such townships across the country. 8220;In 1993, I was approached by a student doing his graduation from the Blind Men8217;s Association, who said he had no alternative but to end his life as he had no roof over his head. On studying the matter, I realised that 99 per cent of disabled students apprehended an uncertain future as they were not accepted by their parents or society. Even after their graduation, they usually have no shelter or even a job for that matter,8221; she said.

Shah then approached the Slum Clearance Board with the proposal to allot a quota of the houses in their colonies for sale to the disabled. The Board agreed to the proposal, but it was only after much negotiation that the price was decided.

8220;First, we had to approach the authorities in Gandhinagar to convince them to give a subsidy to the visually and physically challenged, similar to that extended to SC/ST candidates. Fortunately, the ministers were supportive and granted a Rs 20,000 subsidy to each disabled applicant, regardless of his/her caste,8221; said Shah. Following further negotiation, the down payment of Rs 25,000 was brought down to Rs 3,000.

The Slum Clearance Board has at present earmarked 1,000 houses in Ahmedabad, 350 in Vadodara, 480 in Surat, 250 in Rajkot and 350 in Vadhvan for the HABITAT project. Emergency allotments for five applicants have been done in Vadodara and 50 more applications will be cleared by June-end. Shah plans to introduce the scheme in other states as well. While the project has been well-received by the beneficiaries, the poor condition of the houses and the lack of basic amenities worries Shah. Though the colonies had been constructed 12 years ago, allotments began only four years ago. Meanwhile, lack of maintenance has caused the buildings to develop cracks.

Good intentions marred by faulty implementation: the charges against Indian officialdom are being vindicated once again. This time, the victims are, unfortunately, ones whom fate has already handed a raw deal. And ironically enough, this blow is being perpetrated in the guise of a benediction.First, the bit about good intentions. A unique housing project planned by the Slum Clearance Board at the instance of Pramila Shah, a social worker, aims at allowing more than 2,000 visually and physically challenged people in Gujarat to own a house by the year-end.

Floated in 1997, the project 8212; Handicapped and Blind International Township At HABITAT Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Vadhvan 8212; wants to integrate the differently abled into the mainstream by offering them accommodation and employment opportunities. Applicants will be able to purchase houses in the SCB colonies in these cities at subsidised rates.

Talking to Express Newsline Shah stressed the need for more such townships across the country. 8220;In 1993, I was approached by a student doing his graduation from the Blind Men8217;s Association, who said he had no alternative to ending his life as he had no roof over his head. On studying the matter, I realised that 99 per cent of disabled students lived in fear of an uncertain future as they were not accepted by their parents or society. Even after their graduation, they usually have no shelter or even a job,8221; she said.

Shah then approached the SCB with the proposal of alloting some of the houses in their colonies for sale to the disabled. The Board agreed to the proposal, but it was only after much negotiation that the price was decided.8220;First, we had to approach the authorities in Gandhinagar to convince them to give a subsidy to the visually and physically challenged. The ministers were supportive and granted a Rs 20,000 subsidy to each disabled applicant,8221; said Shah. Following further negotiation, the down payment of Rs 25,000 was brought down to Rs 3,000.

The Slum Clearance Board has at present earmarked 1,000 houses in Ahmedabad, 350 in Vadodara, 480 in Surat, 250 in Rajkot and 350 in Vadhvan for the HABITAT project. Emergency allotments for five applicants have been done in Vadodara and 50 more applications will be cleared by June-end.

Now comes the bit about half-hearted implementation. The SCB colonies were constructed 12 years ago, but allotments began only four years ago. Shah said the houses, in the meantime, had deteriorated considerably.

On a visit to the city Board8217;s Chacha Nehru Vasahat on Ajwa Road, Express Newsline learnt that the only source of water was a solitary tanker which visits the area once a day. For more than four years now, residents of the 400-odd houses have been collecting water for their daily use from the tanker. During the monsoons, when the road become impassable, locals have to trek across a vast water-clogged maidan to the main road for their quota.

8220;Imagine the trouble the disabled will face if these circumstances continue. I have approached the Ajwa sarpanch who has promised to look into the matter at the earliest. If the local authorities can8217;t do the needful, I8217;ll have to approach the higher officials,8221; stated Shah.