Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Mr. Louis Steven Obeegadoo, remitted the key of a social housing unit, provided by the National Housing Development Co Ltd (NHDC), this afternoon, to the De Souza family.
The beneficiaries of the NHDC social housing unit, situated at Résidence Prés Vert, in Curepipe, are Mr Dylan and Mrs Anastasia De Souza, along with their two-year-old twin boys.
In a statement, the Deputy Prime Minister said that it was a heart-warming moment to be able to help a struggling family to undertake a fresh start and become a house owner.
He underpinned the key contribution of the NHDC and Caritas Mauritius to Government’s efforts as well as everyone’s personal commitment in this endeavour. Government, he stated, is not only spearheading major projects but is also ensuring that the quality of life of all citizens is enhanced.
Mr Obeegadoo explained that the De Souza couple was evicted from their rented house in Lallmatie, and subsequently occupied illegally a plot of State land in Malherbes, where they were called upon by the authorities to leave the site during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Afterwards, they moved in with a relative where it was already overcrowded and thus made an application for an NHDC social housing unit, he added. The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that the authorities pledged to help all evicted squatters who would be found to be genuine cases of vulnerable families, upon investigation.
The De Souza family, he pointed out, was treated as a hardship case following investigation by the NHDC and that thereafter, the NHDC proceeded to renovate an existing house. He stressed that Caritas Mauritius paid for the deposit to enable Mr De Souza to effect the monthly payment of Rs 1,800 over 25 years.
In addition, Mr Obeegadoo underlined that the young couple should ensure that they abide by their responsibility and remain a united family, providing proper care to their children and ensuring that they progress and prosper in their life.
On that score, he remarked that the twin boys are currently undergoing medical treatment for an ailment, and that they will be provided with the continued Governmental support.
As for the Chief Executive Officer of the NHDC, Mr Jairaj Sonoo, he highlighted that the necessary support would continue to be granted to vulnerable families, in particular the hardship cases.
He recalled that 12,000 social housing units are being constructed to this end, and said that they will be delivered to eligible beneficiaries in 2023.
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