While political leaders are engaged in allegations and counter allegations, majority of the slum dwellers are not ready to accept the Chief Minister’s proposal for one-plus-one housing.
The residents of Laxmipuram slum near Warangal old grain market entered into an argument with the housing officials who went there seeking their consent for the proposed housing programme. The officials had to return without conducting their proceedings.
Meanwhile, hundreds of residents residing in slums thronged the Hanamkonda Mandal Revenue Office to apply for regularisation of their houses. We will report the opinion of these residents to our top officials, said a housing board officer expressing helplessness.
Sarojana who migrated from Geesukonda mandal and settled in Garibnagar slum sought to know how the government could demolish their house to accommodate another family. “What all we want is right to land where we are now living. We are happy with our dwelling though it is not a pucca house,” she said.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had made it clear that those not willing for the scheme would not get the benefit of housing. However, these slum-dwellers seem to be unperturbed.
Meanwhile, TDP senior MLA Errabelli Dayakar Rao alleged that the Chief Minister only created differences within the people happily living in slums. Parkal MLA Ch. Dharma Reddy alleged that the TDP was trying to instigate people against the government .
Many slum-dwellers argue that they have children who would be inheriting their house. They would face problems if other family resides above them or shares the property. Residents of Jitender Nagar, Deendayal Nagar, Pragathi Nagar and Laxmipuram too echo similar feelings. “We only want house site pattas and nothing more,” said Manjulatha of Deendayal Nagar. TDP and BJP leaders support the view of many residents opposed to the housing scheme. “But, if a poor man cannot accommodate another poor, why should the government help him,” KCR had reasoned.
