•-The Central government is trying its best to alleviate the conditions of the poorer sections of society including STs, SCs, women and disabled from different parts of the country. To do this, it entrusts the State government with the onerous tasks of undertaking such responsibilities. However, it is found that Nagaland government is found wanting in such ventures either due to selfish interests or total ignorance. One such scheme is the Interest Subsidy scheme for Housing the Urban Poor (ISHUP) launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India under JNNURM.
ISHUP is a subsidized loan scheme to give pucca houses to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG) of society where the beneficiary’s income should not be more than Rs. 3,300 per month in the case of EWS. Under this, one having land in urban areas can avail subsidized loan of upto Rs. one lakh to built a pucca house of atleast 25sq.mt. The beauty of this scheme is that to beat red tapism, one need not produce a third party guarantor, thus making the whole process beneficiary friendly.
However, it is found that the Department of Urban Development-the nodal agency for Nagaland State- is not following the guidelines, thereby rejecting thousands of genuine beneficiaries in the process. For instance, the department is asking for guarantor when none is needed for loans upto Rs. one lakh. There has been numerous instances where beneficiaries showing income between Rs. 2500 and Rs.3,300 has been unnecessarily berated by dealing assistants as according to them the income produced is too less which beats common sense- assistance is for poorer sections with less income and not for rich people. Anyways, the guideline is clear- monthly income not more than Rs. 3,300 for EWS.
There are genuine beneficiaries out there who want to avail such opportunities offered by the Government of India. But the action of the Urban Development department of Nagaland is nothing but harassment to beneficiaries who have spent thousands of rupees on paperwork alone. The department is guilty of depriving thousands for no fault of theirs and making mockery of another Central government initiative.
Chenti Kath, Dimapur
ISHUP is a subsidized loan scheme to give pucca houses to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG) of society where the beneficiary’s income should not be more than Rs. 3,300 per month in the case of EWS. Under this, one having land in urban areas can avail subsidized loan of upto Rs. one lakh to built a pucca house of atleast 25sq.mt. The beauty of this scheme is that to beat red tapism, one need not produce a third party guarantor, thus making the whole process beneficiary friendly.
However, it is found that the Department of Urban Development-the nodal agency for Nagaland State- is not following the guidelines, thereby rejecting thousands of genuine beneficiaries in the process. For instance, the department is asking for guarantor when none is needed for loans upto Rs. one lakh. There has been numerous instances where beneficiaries showing income between Rs. 2500 and Rs.3,300 has been unnecessarily berated by dealing assistants as according to them the income produced is too less which beats common sense- assistance is for poorer sections with less income and not for rich people. Anyways, the guideline is clear- monthly income not more than Rs. 3,300 for EWS.
There are genuine beneficiaries out there who want to avail such opportunities offered by the Government of India. But the action of the Urban Development department of Nagaland is nothing but harassment to beneficiaries who have spent thousands of rupees on paperwork alone. The department is guilty of depriving thousands for no fault of theirs and making mockery of another Central government initiative.
Chenti Kath, Dimapur
