OTS scheme a hit despite opposition
The One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme is increasingly getting the people’s support in Andhra Pradesh, despite spokes being inserted into the wheel by Opposition parties and a non-cooperation call by the Telugu Desam. According to reports, nearly three lakh housing beneficiaries have availed the ‘Jagananna Sampoorna Gruha Hakku’ OTS scheme in 13 districts of AP. As many as 2,95,592 housing beneficiaries have availed the OTS scheme till Sunday and officials are expecting more beneficiaries to come forward.
Special chief secretary (Housing) Ajay Jain said Chief Minister Jagan will formally launch the OTS scheme on December 21. The TD and other opposition parties are objecting to the collection of fees for registration under OTS and demanding that the government do the registrations free of cost. TD called the people to join a non-cooperation movement against OTS and is promising free registration by TD when it hopefully comes to power after the next assembly polls.
Under the OTS scheme, the people who got houses from 1983 to 2011 can now get them registered in their name by paying a nominal fee fixed by the government. The beneficiaries can avail scheme by paying `10,000 in villages, or `15,000 in municipalities, or `20,000 in municipal corporations, as the case may be.
On November 30, a controversial circular was issued by Santha bommali Panchayat secretary K. Prasad about stopping of social security pensions to the beneficiaries who are not ready to join the OTS. The government swiftly initiated action against the official and cancelled the circular. The CM asked officials to act tough against negative publicity on the OTS scheme. The government launched a massive campaign on OTS, countering allegations of Opposition parties under which posters, pamphlets and short films were used to bring about awareness among the masses. Further, the village and ward volunteers carried out a Citizen Outreach Programme to explain to the masses about OTS and these are giving good results. The housing beneficiaries are gradually realizing the benefits of the OTS and are coming forward to make good use of the scheme to get total rights on their houses.
Housing beneficiaries K. Subba Rao and others said that they got houses from the government under the housing scheme but these assets were not helping them get loans from the banks by way of registered patta lands and houses. They said there is no chance for beneficiaries to sell their houses and OTS will give them a chance to hypothecate and transfer, which is a golden chance to get a good value on par with registered patta houses.