Government to rope in NGOs for housing scheme

BANGALORE: The state government has decided to deploy certain Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to popularise its ‘Namma Mane Namma Hakku’ wherein the occupants of the Ashraya Houses would be granted ownership rights in return for payment of arrears of loans obtained during the allotment.Addressing the media here on Wednesday, Karnataka Housing minister V Somanna informed that the decision to take the services of Non-Governmental Organisations was to popularise the one-time offer made to the beneficiaries of the Ashraya housing scheme to get ownership rights for their dwelling houses.He said that Non-Governmental Organisations, would work in coordination with the nodal officers of the Housing Department in every taluks and districts and visit the doorstep of all the Ashraya housing scheme beneficiaries and pursue them to pay back the arrears acrued against their houses.“NGOs would get 2 per cent incentive for their services,” said Somanna.He said that Non-Governmental Organisations  have been instructed to create awareness among Ashraya Housing scheme beneficiaries on the silent features of the ‘Namma Mane Namma Hakku’ scheme and pursue them to pay back their dues if any to the Housing Department. “The Department was to receive over `1,500 crore from the Ashraya house all0ottees excluding the interest, which has already been waived,” said Somanna.Ever since the scheme was launched, and it would remain into effect till March 2013, the minister said that about `17 crore has already been received by the Housing Department from the beneficiaries.The minister also informed that the Department has developed a new website, which would provide an insight into all the ongoing housing schemes, including that of Ashraya, Basavashrya, Indira Awas and others related issues. “The website would be launched by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on the 5th of this month,” he said. Describing the launch of website on housing schemes as a milestone in the history of the department the minister said that it would help to disseminate all informations regarding various housing schemes taken up by the state government.