From Our Special
Correspondent
New Delhi, Dec 7: The North East MPs Forum has urged the central government to establish an affordable rental housing scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for providing sustainable residences for the youth of the region residing in Delhi.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the forum highlighted the plight of thousands of students and single working individuals from the Northeast who have chosen Delhi as their base for education, jobs, and economic growth.
However, they often face hurdles in securing affordable rental accommodations with proper civic amenities due to various factors, the letter stated.
Different physical appearance, cultural and dietary differences often lead to disputes between the landlords and the Northeasterners escalating into law-and-order issues, the forum said.
It emphasised instances of discrimination and challenges faced by the Northeast youth, including exorbitant rent demands, commissions to property brokers, and difficulties in obtaining refunds of security deposits due to landlords’ reluctance to execute written rent agreements.
The Covid-19 pandemic further exacerbated challenges for the NE students in Delhi. Recognising the need for dignified living spaces with essential amenities proximate to workplaces, the forum proposed the implementation of the ARHC scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
This initiative aims to create inclusive and sustainable affordable rental housing options.
The proposed ARHC envisions modern pandemic-resilient housing with digital infrastructure, last-mile transport utilising electric vehicles integrated with Delhi’s mass transit systems, and on-site facilities such as coaching centres for job-oriented courses, cultural centres, local shopping zones, and food courts catering to dietary needs.
Identifying potential sites across Delhi, including land owned by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi Development Authority and others, the forum highlighted areas suitable for redevelopment into Northeast student housing complexes.
To facilitate the project, the forum suggested engaging the Architecture Department and School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi, as consultant agency to prepare a detailed project report and oversee statutory approvals from different bodies in the national capital.