CM Arvind Kejriwal Seeks Central Government's Support for Sanitation Workers' Housing Scheme

Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, has proposed a new housing scheme aimed at providing affordable homes for sanitation workers employed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The proposal calls for the central government to provide land at subsidized rates, which would then be used by the Delhi government to build houses for these workers. The initiative is designed to help workers purchase homes at affordable prices with repayments made through easy installments deducted from their salaries.

Currently, sanitation workers in Delhi are provided with government accommodation during their service years. However, after retirement, they are required to vacate these homes, and many of them are unable to afford their own homes or pay high rents in the city. This leaves them in a difficult situation, as they often cannot secure affordable housing once they retire. Kejriwal's proposal seeks to address this issue by offering these workers a chance to own homes through a scheme that would allow them to repay the cost over several years.

Under the plan, sanitation workers would be able to purchase homes at subsidized rates, and the repayments would be deducted from their salaries over the final years of their service. This would ensure that the workers could become homeowners without facing financial burden. The proposal focuses on sanitation workers initially, but Kejriwal has suggested that the scheme could be expanded to other government employees in the future, addressing housing issues for a broader group of workers.

Chief Minister Kejriwal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the central government’s support for the scheme. He emphasized the importance of providing affordable housing to sanitation workers, who play a critical role in maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of Delhi. In his letter, Kejriwal pointed out that while these workers live in government-provided accommodation during their service, they are left with no permanent housing options after retirement. He stressed that this scheme would provide a solution to this issue by allowing these workers to own their homes in the city.

The Chief Minister hopes that the central government will agree to provide the necessary land at subsidized rates, making the project feasible. If successful, the initiative could serve as a model for other states and help improve housing options for workers in similar situations across the country. The scheme would also provide a more stable and secure future for sanitation workers, ensuring that they have a place to live even after they retire.