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We remain where we were


The Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY) is a Centre-State partnership scheme to provide homes and improve the living conditions of slum households. But while it might be a good idea in theory, its practical application leaves a lot to be desired.
On a recent visit to Vejalpur, we received a lot of complaints about VAMBAY and upon further investigation with locals and NGOS, realised the convoluted nature of the problem.

As per the housing initiative in the area, members of a certain locality were given homes for which they had to pay Rs 600 a month in rent. Of course this figure did not include electricity and maintenance — including which their rent amounted to about Rs 800 per month. This might not seem like much, but when this figure is increased by adding to it food and school and medical expenses, there is not much left  of the Rs 2000 - 2500  monthly income that a lot of the residents here earn.

What is the solution? That more of the VAMBAY grant is used to lighten the monetary burden of rent on these families. However, since their income of Rs 2500 a month doesn’t really “qualify” them as being as needy as necessary, further grants cannot be applied to them. So, without the assistance of the scheme, the members of the community default on rent,  their houses are taken away from them and are now left locked up without use. Everybody loses.

There are so many Centre schemes and State schemes and Centre-State schemes in India today, and yet when one looks into their application, it is a sad case. Schemes are written with many clauses and sub clauses. No one tells their target population what these clauses and sub clauses are. We all operate on some vague knowledge of what is supposed to happen without ever having a clear idea of the facts. The government obfuscates, the people meander about in a confused fashion, and at the end of the day, hardly anything gets done.

We remain exactly where we were the day before.


Posted in Governance.


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  1. Syed Naqvi says

    In Parliament you must ask for more GDP spending on health and education


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