Republic of Mauritius- Budget 2020-2021:Equal access to decent housing

The Minister of Housing and Land Use
Planning, Mr. Louis Steven Obeegadoo,
made this statement during his intervention on budget debates, yesterday, in
the National Assembly.

According
to him, the 2020-2021
budgetary measures for the construction sector are encouraging, given the lack
of affordable state-built apartments for purchase or sale.

There
is a dysfunctional housing market situation
whereby
working and middle class Mauritians find it difficult to find affordable
housing units to buy or rent, he said, while adding that there are currently around
18,000 applicants for social housing at the NHDC and the NEF.

Mr. Louis Steven Obeegadoo reiterated the determination and political will of the
government to ensure that the vulnerable
ones are given the necessary assistance to benefit from decent housing. He thus highlighted that
the 2020-2021 Budget provides for the construction of 12,000 houses in a period of 3 years, which he stressed, is an unprecedented financial
commitment from the Government
to act quickly and efficiently to build a
large
number of social housing within a
short deadline.

The Minister also indicated that 2,221 social
housing units were built by the NHDC and 136 by the NEF in 2015-2020. 154
houses are about to be handed over to
beneficiaries , while 278 houses will be delivered in the coming months
in Calebasses, Montagne Longue, Camp Fouquereaux and Baie
du Tombeaux . In addition, 678
homes will be handed over to beneficiaries at
the end of the year, 1,717 in 2021 and 1,427 in 2022.

He
also recalled that his Ministry plans to organise a National Forum to develop a strategy
to help the most vulnerable section of
the
society.

According to him, having decent housing is a
fundamental right and a legitimate aspiration, but that it must be done in
accordance with the principles of social justice and equal opportunities. On that note, he dwelt on the illegal
occupation of state lands, which he deplored  hinders the development of the country  for
the benefit of the population at large.

He spoke about Government’s  decision to act against the sudden and
exponential increase in squatters who violated curfew law during the Covid-19
pandemic, whereby some 170 squatters  erected
illegal structures on state land in
two weeks.

The Minister  underlined that the
Ministry of Health and Wellness  is waiting for two state lands, at Roche Bois and St François Xavier in
Port Louis, to be freed from squatters, to
enable
the construction of health centers, which he
added will undoubtedly  benefit the entire population.

Also,
he announced that his Ministry
intends to revise the criteria
concerning the requests for social housing so
as
to support the most vulnerable according
to social trends such as the rising
feminisation of poverty.

Government Information Service, Prime Minister’s Office, Level
6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org  Website: http://gis.govmu.org  Mobile App:
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