35,125 Apply for 7,340 Indiramma Houses in CURE Region Amid Application Concerns

Applicants across Hyderabad's Core Urban Region Economy (CURE) submitted 35,125 forms for 7,340 proposed Indiramma houses ahead of the August 10 deadline, amid rising concerns over the processing of welfare applications. Residents applying for housing allotments and Cheyutha pensions expressed apprehension that the current drive might repeat the delays of the December 2023 Praja Palana programme.

The State government invited fresh applications for Cheyutha pensions and housing allotments to update its beneficiary lists. An official from the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty explained that nearly three years have passed since the December 2023 application drive, making more individuals eligible under various categories. Although Planning department officials stated that details from the 2023 drive were uploaded online, the status of those applications remains unclear to applicants.

For the Indiramma housing scheme, the State government originally announced the construction of one lakh houses in the CURE region. However, only 7,340 double-bedroom flats, measuring 520 square feet each, are currently proposed across 16 constituencies. Selected beneficiaries will be required to contribute Rs 6 lakh towards the construction cost of each flat.

Ahead of the August 10 cutoff date, applicants submitted their forms along with a deposit of Rs 10,000 each. Officials confirmed that 35,125 applications had been received by Sunday. Beneficiaries will be chosen through a draw of lots, and the Rs 10,000 token amount will be refunded to applicants who are not selected.

Simultaneously, the government invited applications for Cheyutha pensions under multiple categories, including widows, differently-abled individuals, weavers, single women, toddy tappers, and patients undergoing dialysis or suffering from filaria.

Under the previous BRS government, pensions were extended to nearly 43 lakh beneficiaries, with monthly amounts initially set at Rs 1,000 and later increased to Rs 2,016. During the 2023 elections, the Congress party promised to raise the pension amount to Rs 4,000. However, officials indicated that no government orders have been issued to implement the enhancement. Applicants and existing beneficiaries remain cautious, citing concerns over potential filtering of beneficiary lists and the State government's financial situation.