State Finance Commission asks TNSCB to work out alternate models to ensure affordable home reach beneficiaries

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:

Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board has been asked to work out alternative managerial models that can be attempted to ensure affordable housing apartment blocks cater to truly deserving beneficiaries, according to Fifth State Finance Commission recommendations.

The recommendation which was put forth before the housing department also stressed that the apartments are well maintained and financially sustainable.

It also suggested that such models should be operationalised using Shelter Fund and Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Fund Management Corporation (TNIFMC).

Shelter fund was created by the state government in July 21, 2017 to fund the ambitious housing project for affordable homes for poor. The new draft housing policy has suggested that the fund could be directed towards creating land bank for priority sector lending under affordable housing.

The idea is to help the state pool funds for purchasing land and developing affordable housing projects for economic weaker section and low income group.

It has also suggested that Slkum Clearance Board should work out Public Private Partnership models which would enable the creation of affordable housing stock, both on ownership and rental models, where the government or government entities, including urban local bodies can participate through provision of land as their equity contribution.

It is learnt that the state government has sought an action taken report on the recommendations which could be deliberated during a high level committee meeting, sources said.

Independent policy researcher Vanessa Peter told Express that the recommendations are positive one but stressed on the need for a monitoring mechanism to ensure the affordable homes for poor and quality driven.

She also said that the finance commission should specifically mention what the alternative models are. “if it is a public private partnership model, it should be a transparent one and the role of private players should not supersede that of government, she added.

Factfile:

1.  Tamil Nadu has carried a demand assessment of 8.30 lakh houseless households in urban areas of the state under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana's four components

2.  Tamil Nadu will be building 2.66 lakh affordable homes for slum dwellers by partnering with private realty developers.

3.  Under this scheme, houses will be built for slum dwellers at an affordable rate by using the expertise of private developers.

4.  The state housing department will have to engage Third Party Quality Monitoring Agencies (TPQMA) to ensure quality of construction.

5.  It is learnt that Centre has asked the state to draw up quality monitoring and assurance plans involving third party agencies