Gov’t Unable To Reverse Double Allocations to Couples Under Gedhoruveriyaa Housing Scheme, Says Minister

Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib stated that the government had made efforts to prevent couples from receiving two separate social housing units under different schemes, but was unable to reverse allocations that had already been finalised.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office yesterday, the minister said the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development had explored legal and ethical options, including consultations with the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), to avoid granting flats to couples where one spouse had already benefited from previous housing programmes. However, he explained that there was no legal basis to deny allocations once agreements had been signed.

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According to Muthalib, 976 individuals who had already received flats under other housing schemes were included in the Gedhoruveriyaa list. Among them, 645 scored 76 points, qualifying them for three-bedroom flats. The minister noted that if allocation rules had been stricter, those flats could have been awarded to other families in need.

In May, the ministry announced that married applicants under the Gedhoruveriyaa scheme would only receive flats if their spouses agreed to relinquish land plots obtained through the Binveriyaa scheme. This condition was later reversed in July due to delays in land reclamation and development works in Hulhumalé Phase III and Giraavaru. Consequently, no applicants on the November 15, 2023 flat list were disqualified based on their spouse’s ownership of Binveriyaa land.

The Gedhoruveriyaa scheme, introduced under the former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)-led administration, allocates social housing apartments based on a points system. The Binveriyaa scheme, in contrast, offers land plots for residential development. The overlap between the two schemes has raised concerns over fairness and equitable distribution amid the country’s ongoing housing shortage.

Muthalib also confirmed that the current administration will allocate flats under Gedhoruveriyaa based on the number of available units, with efforts underway to ensure a fair handover to rightful recipients. He said the ministry had attempted to follow the allocation criteria set by the previous government, which awarded three-bedroom flats to applicants with 76 points, while the remaining units were to be distributed through a draw among those with 75 points.

However, discrepancies were later identified. Over 300 applicants with 76 points were not allocated flats, while some with 75 points were. The matter was referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for investigation. To address the issue, the ministry has cancelled allocations for 75-point applicants and will conduct a draw among those scoring above 76.

Applicants with 75 points will be given two options — to either accept a two-bedroom flat immediately or wait until units allocated to ineligible applicants are reclaimed. Out of 1,218 applicants on the list, 1,160 have received allocations, while 58 remain unassigned. Flats recovered from ineligible recipients and those relinquished by 100 couples will be redistributed to 75-point applicants.

The minister added that the previous government had not included new names in the November 15 list, but the current administration has removed applicants who failed to meet basic eligibility requirements, such as residency in Malé for 15 years or ownership of land.

Addressing reports that flats were being sold for MVR 250,000, Muthalib cautioned the public against scams and stressed that no amount of money could secure a flat for those not on the official list.

Former State Minister for Housing Akram Kamaluddin, who oversaw allocations under the previous administration, rejected the current ministry’s claims, stating that only qualified couples who had already received two flats were excluded from the draw. He accused the ministry of misleading the public by omitting this information.