‘Housing for all’ initiative for urban poor of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UD) has started an initiative “Housing for All Policy” especially for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) beneficiaries in urban areas of Odisha.

Under this initiative, Odisha Urban Housing Mission (OUHM) has developed a transparent and professionally managed web-based software solution as well as an android based mobile app called “House Allotment System”. The launching ceremony of the House Allotment (HAS) System was organised recently by Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) supported by OUHM.

The System was launched by Housing and Urban Development department Minister, Usha Devi. She congratulated the H&UD Department for achieving a milestone in establishing a transparent and professionally managed system, for allotment of houses to the EWS.

“I hope this system will be a step towards achieving the vision and goal of our Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of providing a roof to all persons belonging to the Economic Weaker Sections,” Usha Devi said.

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Mission Director, OUHM, Debasis Singh welcomed all the dignitaries at the launching ceremony and highlighted the importance of the newly developed web–based solution. Sushanta Kumar Mishra, Director Town Planning, Commissioner Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Vijay Amrut Kulange, Secretary BDA Kabindra Kumar Sahoo and Vice–Chairman BDA Sanjay Kumar Singh were the dignitaries present. Among others present were Secretary ORERA and other officials from BDA and OUHM.

Mishra gave a brief background of the HAS System. Highlighting the provisions mentioned in the Housing For All Policy, he said, “The policy adopts seven models of intervention for creation of affordable housing stock and slum redevelopment.”

“Model I of the Policy envisages that every project developer, be it private or government project development agency, must reserve at least 10 per cent of the total built up area of a residential project, for construction of houses for the people belonging to EWS. In accordance with this provision of the policy, by the end of FY 2021-22 approximately 1,500 EWS houses would have already been constructed, which is now required to be allotted to the eligible and intended beneficiaries through a transparent and efficient manner.

“The House Allotment System developed by H&UD Dept will enable allotment of houses to the beneficiaries, through a fair and transparent mechanism right from registration to handing over of houses,” he also said.

Vice–Chairman of BDA, Singh said, “This application will be very useful to the beneficiaries as each and every service related to house allotment will be available at their fingertips.”

The key objective of this allotment system is to generate predictability, transparency and ensure social auditing. The system will work on the principle of a continuous process of registration of all those families, who want to avail dwelling units under the ‘Housing for All Policy’. Moreover, the application will also help address the challenges of housing in the State by assessing the shortage in various cities and plan accordingly.