Over 6,000 apply for social housing scheme

Over 6,000 application forms have been submitted by residents of the capital Male’ for the government’s social housing scheme, local media reports.

According to the Housing Ministry, 2,970 forms were submitted in category A by citizens registered in Male’, 3,267 forms were submitted in category B by citizens from other islands residing in the capital, and just one form in category C, which involves relinquishing a small plot in exchange for a flat.

Deputy Housing Minister Abdul Muttalib told the press yesterday that applicants were required to submit utility bills as well as floor plans of their current residence.

Utility bills would be reviewed to access the living condition of applicants, he said.

The deadline for submission of forms is early May.

Muttalib meanwhile explained that a special software would be used to process and grade applications.

The current administration plans to construct 1,100 flats in Hulhumale’ under its social housing programme. The scheme targets residents of the capital living in cramped and difficult conditions.

Of the 1,100 flats, 385 are to be built with a soft loan from India’s EXIM bank while 715 are to be built with a soft loan from the Chinese EXIM bank.