The Maldivian government has confirmed that 1,820 applicants are eligible to receive flats under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ housing scheme, which was introduced by the previous administration. This announcement came after a thorough verification process, as stated by Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib during a press conference held at the President’s Office on Thursday.
Minister Muthalib revealed that the original list, which included 4,939 individuals initially deemed eligible for housing, was found to contain significant discrepancies. Following the verification process, it was discovered that 53 percent of the individuals on the list were not eligible for the flats.
According to the Minister, the original list included 3,721 individuals thought to be eligible for three-bedroom flats. However, after checking, only 1,423 of them met the required criteria, scoring at least 75 points as stipulated by the scheme. Additionally, from the 1,218 applicants believed to be eligible for two-bedroom flats, only 397 were deemed qualified after the verification.
Minister Muthalib assured that the process to hand over flats to the 1,820 confirmed recipients will begin soon. The remaining 3,119 applicants who were not eligible will have the opportunity to lodge complaints within the next 30 days.
While addressing the situation, the Minister emphasized that the irregularities found in the initial list, which was compiled under the previous government, would be forwarded to the relevant authorities for further investigation.
The ‘Gedhoruveriya’ housing scheme, which was one of the previous administration’s key initiatives, aimed to address the growing need for affordable housing in the country. However, the discrepancies in the eligibility process have raised concerns about the transparency of the previous system. The government’s review of the scheme is expected to lead to a more transparent and fair process moving forward.
As the distribution process for the flats begins, the government is focused on ensuring that the housing needs of Maldivians are met with fairness and efficiency.
