06-07-2023 : The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concern over the lack of transparency and unanswered questions regarding the government’s clarification on housing for the poor. The PDP took note of the prompt response by the government to a press conference held by its president, Mehbooba Mufti, but expressed dismay at the lingering lack of transparency in the process.
One of the key issues raised by the party spokesperson is the significant increase in the number of homeless people. The spokesperson highlighted that the number of homeless individuals jumped from 19,047 in 2021 to nearly 2 lakh households. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) has been in operation for years in the state, under various titles, with a monitoring process in place by the Government of India itself, from identification to execution levels.
The PDP statement further mentioned that assistance was generally provided to the poorest landholders. For those without land, a process existed to allocate community lands such as Kahcharai, state land, Khalisa, etc., to them. However, the party expressed doubts about the claim that 2 lakh households had been identified but remained homeless, raising concerns about either a flawed process or questionable intentions.
The spokesperson also highlighted the recent allocation of tenements to non-local workers in Jammu, questioning whether any other state in the country reciprocates such benefits for thousands of workers, hawkers, and small vendors who move to the plains during winter. This raises concerns about equal treatment and fairness in providing housing and support.
The PDP’s concerns underscore the need for transparency, accountability, and clarity in the government’s approach to housing for the poor. The party calls for a thorough review of the processes and intentions behind the housing initiatives to ensure that the assistance reaches those in genuine need and that the identified households are not left homeless.