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The state government’s decision to hike financial assistance under Basava Vasathi Yojane has ushered in a hope among the beneficiaries in Dakshina Kannada district.

The state government has decided to increase the financial assistance to Rs 1.20 lakh from 75,000 for constructing a house in the scheme.  

More than 19,000 houses were sanctioned under the scheme in Dakshina Kannada in 2010-11.

The funds were released for the construction of houses after identifying 18,593 beneficiaries. If the construction work was not started within 90 days, then the funds were withheld by the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation. Accordingly, the financial assistance for 8,690 beneficiaries were withheld in DK district.

“In the past, the government was providing financial assistance of Rs 75,000 to each house and the beneficiaries will have to share Rs 30,000 through loan for the house. However, with such a meagre amount, houses could not be constructed in the district. As several beneficiaries failed to adjust money to complete the house work, many did not go to construct the houses,” said an implementing officer.

The government has sanctioned 4060 houses under the scheme in 2013-14. The order on the same has reached all the taluk executive officers on July 6.

Accordingly, 20 houses have been sanctioned to each village in the district. With the hike in amount, the officials feel that there will be positive response from the beneficiaries.

Meagre amount

An official on condition of anonymity said “it would be impossible to construct a house with Rs 1.5 lakh in Dakshina Kannada district. For laying a foundation, one has to spend atleast Rs 15,000. Construction materials and wood is expensive in the district. At the same time, there are no proper connectivity to a few sites where poor will construct their houses. Hence, it will be impossible for them to carry construction materials to the sites. Atleast Rs 2.5 lakh should be given for the construction of houses in the district.”

Measures have been initiated to release the withheld funds once the beneficiaries initiated the work on the house. Taluk panchayat EOs have already written to the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation to release funds for 287 houses in Mangalore, 979 in Bantwal, 57 in Puttur, 133 in Belthangady and 296 in Sullia taluk.

Once the fund is released, then the nodal officer should visit the site and upload
photographs of the progress of the house.

The unit cost should not exceed Rs three lakh and the area of the house should be within 1,200 square feet. Any violation in the rules will amount to withholding of last installment from the Corporation. Accordingly, last installment of financial assistance was withheld for 127 houses in Belthangady 188 in Mangalore, 15 in Puttur, 12 in Sullia and 140 in Bantwal taluk.

The Zilla panchayat had passed a resolution to urge the government to relax rules for the scheme in Dakshina Kannada.

The proposal to relax rules pertaining to Basava Yojane is before the Corporation. A guidelines have already been formed and waiting nod from the government, said a letter from Corporation Managing Director to the EOs.