Flats for slum dwellers
According to the PMO sources, the government has planned to rehabilitate the citys slum-dwellers by constructing some 10,000 residential flats in Dhaka. We welcome this worth initiative. The National Housing Authority will reportedly build the rental-based flats at Mirpur Housing Estate in Mirpur Section 11 in several phases. But however good the decision may be a few points are extremely important for ensuring the lawful and proper rehabilitation of slum-dwellers.
First, selecting the accurate benchmarks for defining a slum-dweller, and second the flat rents should be well within the affordable ranges of the low-income segment groups. Following the above two, the other reality which we believe have all potentials to negatively impact the housing project is: if flats are somehow rented out based on political considerations.
Coupled with the housing plan, the government has also reportedly framed the National Housing Policy 2016, and has also taken initiatives for building flats for the lower and middle class people. However, the policy should be implemented as soon as possible, since the population growth in our cities and urban spaces have shot up at alarming levels.
It needs a serious reminder in this regard is that housing projects may solve the sheltering of many thousands of poor people, but what about ensuring the unimpeded smooth supply of utilities to these flats? With far too many flats and apartment complexes in too limited a space, our cities are frequently collapsing to supply the occupants with adequate water, electricity and gas. Moreover, by the time these 10,000 flats are built the slum population too, would increase.
Whatever the future reality may be, the people for long have felt the absence of a low-cost efficient housing scheme in Bangladesh. The focus should be on housing at lower cost as compared to the prevailing cost levels. The prime objective is to reduce cost and make housing an eco-friendly one. Also, since natural calamities like flood and cyclone are common phenomenon in Bangladesh, this low cost housing project should also be durable and should have good living conditions for the dwellers.
However, governments construction authorities must ensure that, low cost housing is by no means, low quality housing. That said, the effective adoption of an alternative and effective urban development strategy is only possible with a basic restructuring of the social priorities and financial policies. Lastly, a firm political commitment to social development is necessary to ensure that the required resources are channelled for the benefit of the underprivileged and the community as a whole.
