Stressing the crucial need of affordable housing for homeless poor, National Conference (NC) leader Devender Singh Rana on Thursday lauded the corporate effort of tackling the housing crisis by way of technical know-how and logistic assistance.

“Homes for all should be a mission for us all to bring about parity between haves and have-nots”, Rana said while laying the foundation stone for developing low cost housing prototypes at villages Shanoo and Dhansoo in Panchayat Dhan of Nagrota Assembly Constituency.

This is yet another initiative of MLA Nagrota Devender Sing Rana who took the issue with Rattan Tata, seeking development of Islands of Excellence in the constituency.

Appreciating the deep yearning of Mr Rana about housing for poor, especially Scheduled Caste segment of the society, in his constituency, Tata deputed a team for identifying the villages to be taken up in the first phase.

After due deliberations and series of consultations by top consultants of the executing sponsors with Rana the blue-print for the initiative was discussed and finalized.

From conceptual stage of the project till its finalisation, the sponsors remained in touch with Rana and kept incorporating his suggestions to finalise building plans as per local requirements.

Rana made a specific mention of the gigantic task taken up by Tata Trusts in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity India in the two villages, saying this will prove a game changer in meeting the housing requirements of the poor.

He hoped that the beneficiaries will not only benefit from technology aimed at reducing the construction costs but also turn out as motivational factors for others to emulate. He said the success of any governmental scheme on housing front will succeed only when the homeless are incentivized in terms of financial assistance and support system related to health and hygiene.

The MLA Nagrota exuded confidence that the pro-active philanthropy of Tata Trusts together with established contribution of Habitat for Humanity India in the field of low cost housing across the country will prove a ray of hope for bringing cheers in the lives of rural poor. He called for timely completion of the affordable housing projects so that the scheme is extended to other villages of the constituency.

Rana complimented the sponsors for choosing his constituency for implementing the lofty housing scheme and assured all support and help from the local communities in general and the beneficiaries in particular.

He, however, urged the sponsors to involve the beneficiaries at the designing stage of the proposed constructions so that their basic minimum requirements get reflected in the building plans. He said that affordable housing is need of the hour in the present times when cost of construction has gone sky-high. “Such an effort will prove inspirational for the people who have been dreaming for roofs of their own”, the Provincial President said.

Shishir Ranjan Dass from TATA Trusts briefed the MLA about the prototypes being implemented in the two villages and called for active participation of the locals in implementation of this prestigious project. Justin, Director Habitat for Humanity India, Prasanna Morey and Gaurav Architects besides Utkarsha Bhardwaj of Swaniti Initiative were also present.Rana hoped that these prototypes are replicated in other village of the constituency.

Guest