Arvind Kejriwal proposes housing scheme for sanitation workers in Delhi

New Delhi: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday proposed a joint housing scheme with the Centre for retired safai karamcharis (sanitation workers).

Acknowledging the housing problem in the capital, Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday and proposed that the Centre should allocate land in Delhi on concessional rates and the AAP government will construct affordable housing units on that land.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said, "During their service, safai karamcharis can have a certain part of their salaries deducted to pay as installments towards their houses. By the time they retire, they would have a home to call their own, eliminating the risk of homelessness and financial strain."


The scheme, he said, will be piloted with employees of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and New Delhi Municipal Council before being extended to all government employees across Delhi.

Kejriwal said, "Particularly for the poor, owning a house or renting one is almost impossible. During a recent visit to my New Delhi constituency, many safai karamcharis approached me. As long as they are employed, they have access to government accommodation. However, after retirement, they are almost left homeless. Their pensions are not sufficient to afford rented housing, nor do they have enough savings to buy a house for themselves. I have seen many safai karamcharis who, after retirement, are forced to live in slums. But even building a slum is not easy."