The North East MPs Forum has urged the centre to establish an Affordable Rental Housing Scheme (ARHC) aimed at providing sustainable habitats for the youth from North East residing in Delhi.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the forum highlighted the plight of thousands of students and single working individuals from the North East who have chosen Delhi as their base for education, job prospects, and economic growth. However, they often face hurdles in securing affordable rental accommodations with proper civic amenities.
The MPs emphasised instances of discrimination and challenges faced by North East youth, including exorbitant rent demands, commissions to property brokers, and difficulties in obtaining refunds of security deposits due to landlords’ reluctance to execute written rent agreements. Moreover, cultural and dietary differences often lead to disputes, escalating into law-and-order issues.
The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated challenges for the student community in Delhi. Recognizing the need for dignified living spaces with essential amenities proximate to workplaces, the Forum proposed the implementation of the ARHC scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. This initiative aims to create inclusive and sustainable affordable rental housing options.
The proposed ARHC envisions modern pandemic-resilient housing with digital infrastructure, last-mile transport utilizing electric vehicles integrated with Delhi’s mass transit systems, and on-site facilities such as coaching centers for job-oriented courses, cultural centers, local shopping zones, and food courts catering to dietary needs.
Identifying potential sites across Delhi, including land owned by Municipal Corporation of Delhi, DUSIB, DDA, NTPC, and Delhi Jal Board, the Forum highlighted areas suitable for redevelopment into North East Student Housing Complexes.
To facilitate the project, the Forum suggested engaging the Architecture Department and School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi, as a Potential Management Consultant (PMC) Agency to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and oversee statutory approvals from different bodies in Delhi.
