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-The Hindu
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<br />
 <em>&lsquo;Construct dwellings at a cost of Rs. 2 lakh each for the houseless'</em>
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<em>Gulbarga: </em>A convention of houseless people has urged the State government to frame a separate housing policy for the poor of rural areas who are houseless and do not own sites, and constitute a village development authority on the lines of the urban development authority.
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The convention was jointly organised by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Karnataka Pranta Raitha Sangha, and the Karnataka Pranta Kooligarara Sangha here on Saturday.
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Addressing the gathering, State secretariat member of CPI (M) and president of the KPRS Maruti Manpade said that successive governments had neglected the housing requirements of the poor, particularly those living in rural areas.
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Mr. Manpade said the State government should direct all gram panchayats to acquire 10 acres of land in all villages and construct houses and allot them to the houseless people and those who do not own sites.
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Each house should be constructed on a 25ft x 35ft plot at a cost of Rs. 2 lakh.
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Mr. Manpade said that at the time of allotment, Dalit families should be given houses based on the percentage of their population in their respective villages and gram panchayats.
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A large number of people participated in the convention. Later, a procession was taken out from the venue of the convention on Nutan Vidyalaya Grounds to the Deputy Commissioner's office, where the agitators submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister.
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