Housing Programme in Tribal Areas of Visakhapatnam District

Abstract

In view of the unhygienic and congested environment in the tribal settlements, large scale housing projects were started under the Paderu ITDA. There is a tremendous demand for housing from the tribals in the area due to the shortage of grass and housing authorities are likely to withstand the increasing demand. As a result, there was a need to conduct evaluation of housing programme in order to identify the lacunae in implementation and suggest corrective measures for its effective implementation. Hence, the study has been carried out by the TCR & TI. Basing on purposive sampling method, the study has been conducted in 22 sample villages and 2 in each Mandal by eliciting household wise information from the beneficiaries besides organizing group discussions at village level. The study reveals that there was no systematic approach in the selection of beneficiaries and no prior intimation to the beneficiaries regarding administrative sanction of houses and time of supply of housing. The problems encountered by the beneficiaries delay in sanction. There was no made creating awareness to procuring wood material from the forest. No uniform distribution within the habitation and no supply of cement and corner tiles in case of some beneficiaries. Enormous delay in supply of housing material and cash payment and it requires persuasion by the beneficiaries involving some expenditure. The study noticed that no technical assistance to the beneficiaries while constructing the houses due to lack of adequate staff at field level in view of large number of vacancies. The stud also given some recommendations like constitution of Mandal level teams for identifying the beneficiaries through Gramasabha. Organization of Awareness Generation camps at habitation level by Mandal level committees or though an active NGO. The sanction proceedings and appropriate time of supply of material should be displayed in the habitation soon after according sanction to enable the beneficiaries to prepare themselves for construction of houses within the time frame.