Govt to evaluate gazetted flat list, not all applicants
The government aims to complete the verification process by Ramadan
Housing and Infrastructure Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib on Tuesday announced that instead of re-evaluating all submitted applications for the Gedhoruveriya housing scheme, the government will verify the individuals listed in the gazetted final list.
Speaking at a press conference, Muththalib stated that the verification process would adhere to the rules announced on June 26, 2022, and the criteria outlined in the flat application portal. The government aims to complete the process and gazette the final list before the month of Ramadan.
A total of 20,697 applications were submitted for 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom flats during the application period. These include:
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6,208 applications for 2-bedroom apartments
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14,489 applications for 3-bedroom apartments
The project, implemented by the Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation, includes:
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1,250 units of 2-bedroom flats
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2,750 units of 3-bedroom flats
The final list of flat recipients was previously announced two days before the change of government. Muththalib noted that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) raised concerns regarding unequal treatment in determining eligibility, particularly regarding the requirement for 15 consecutive years of residence in Male.
Addressing these concerns, the minister explained that the verification process will be based on the following:
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The rules gazetted on June 26, 2022, for flat allocation.
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Guidelines provided on the homeowners’ portal during the application process.
The submitted documents must comply with the rules and guidelines to verify 15 years of consecutive residence. The ACC had highlighted instances of applicants submitting non-compliant documents, which are not legally acceptable.
Muththalib also clarified the approach to determining interruptions in residence:
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Interruptions exceeding one year will be considered a break in consecutive residency.
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Exceptions will be made for the following cases: Employment outside Male for a fixed period.Time spent abroad for higher education.Resort employment while family members resided in Male.
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Employment outside Malé for a fixed period.
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Time spent abroad for higher education.
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Resort employment while family members resided in Male.
The verification process will evaluate the 4,000 applicants listed on November 15, 2023, in accordance with recommendations from the ACC and the Auditor General's Office. The evaluation will include eligibility checks, a review of submitted documents, and fair assessment of the provided information.
Muththalib stated that any discrepancies or issues will be disclosed when the revised list is published. Individuals omitted from the list will be informed of the reasons for their exclusion.
The government aims to complete the verification process by Ramadan, with the final list detailing points allocated and the basis for selection or rejection. President Mohamed Muizzu had previously reaffirmed the commitment to allocate flats and land as promised, stating that the flat list would be finalised and made public before Ramadan.
