The Central Government on Thursday
sanctioned
Rs.258 crores and Rs.192 crores to Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam respectively, for undertaking housing projects. The project is funded under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) wherein 15,000 houses a piece in Vijayawada and visakhapatnam will be constructed immediately.The state government is doing its bit by
providing land for the project. In Vijayawada the housing scheme will help rehabilitate families to be evicted from Krishna riverbed. This is a welcome move on the part of the government to develop the tier-II cities. It is also a deviation from the regular practice of providing housing schemes to the underprivileged social strata of the urban society. The results of such action can be felt once the projects are completed.Every human being in the world craves for the three essential things for survival viz., food, clothing and shelter. By providing shelter under JNNURM one of the bare essentials are fulfilled. If the Government works proactively and provide at least one job (read work) to the families of the underprivileged, under the employment guarantee scheme, the remaining two essentials i.e., food and clothing are taken care of. Funds may not be a problem as there are many international lending agencies like International Monetary Fund (read World Bank), Asian Development bank, etc., to help such causes.For most of the Governments in developing countries in Asia, re-election for a short term is indirectly dependant on development schemes such as housing schemes. The power hungry politicians would not lose the slightest chance to improve their vote bank and once in a blue moon scheme augur well both for the distraught commoners as well as the Government.