Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam has stated efforts are underway to finalise the policy by which the government will be giving marks to provide land plots for residents of Male’ City.
Responding to questions in the Parliament of the Maldives, Minister Aslam said major changes will be made to the policy on giving marks to applicants, compared to earlier policies. The minister said land will be given to residents born in Male’ City, and that the ministry has not yet decided on its policy regarding providing land to registered residents. He said land will be given to residents who do not own 600sqft of land in Male’, but that they will be allowed the opportunity to apply once they release ownership of the land they currently own.
Additionally, Minister Aslam said the biggest change in regards to policy is the marks given to applicants based on age and the number of children. As such, he said marks will be given based on the level of responsibility the applicants have on taking care of their family, in order to identify individuals who are most in need of housing. He added that additional marks will not be given to married applicants.
Furthermore, Minister Aslam said a policy will also be established to give marks based on an applicant’s current living situation, and that the ministry will hold discussions with parliamentarians representing constituents in Male’.
In the 2022 Presidential Address, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih highlighted plans to resolve housing difficulties faced by residents in Male' by issuing 2,000 land plots from the reclaimed land in Giraavaru, Kaafu Atoll, and issuing an additional 1,000 housing units in Hulhumale’.