Housing scheme must for government staff

BANGALORE: Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday demanded      the Centre to evolve a comprehensive housing scheme in the 12th Five-Year Plan   for all ground-level government employees.At an interactive session on construction sector for the formation of the 12th Plan here, Gowda said the lower-rung government employees of panchayats, revenue and other departments were being put to hardships due to non-availability of housing facilities in their working areas.The 12th Five-year Plan should address this issue on priority basis, the CM added.Gowda, who welcomed the efforts of the Central government to initiate consultations with the state government prior to finalising the Plan, promised full co-operation from the state.The other issues the CM highlighted in his speech include the need for extending health and other benefits to the labour class, adoption of new technologies and continuous research in construction sector.Director General of Construction Industry Development Council Dr P R Swarup stressed the need for alignment of the Five-Year Plan with the State Plan through widest possible consultations.“It is with these goals, the Planning Commission has started such interactive sessions,” he added.He also stressed the need to have a post-Plan implementation monitoring mechanism. Deputy Chairperson of State Planning Board Ramachanda Gowda spoke on the occasion.