AWHO land underutilised! Decline in new housing projects raise concern
New Delhi : Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO), a prestigious institution established on the principle of “No Profit No Loss,” has played a important role over the years in fulfilling the housing aspirations of serving and retired defence personnel. The organisation has made commendable contributions in providing affordable and quality housing to military families across the country.
However, recent developments have raised serious concerns within the military community. It has been observed that no new housing schemes are currently being launched by AWHO. At a time when real estate prices in major cities are rising rapidly and competition is intensifying, it is becoming increasingly difficult for defence personnel to own a house.
The situation becomes more alarming with reports that a sizeable piece of land in Jaipur, previously acquired by AWHO, is not being utilised for housing construction but is instead being considered for resale to the same party from whom it was originally purchased. Similar concerns have emerged regarding Kolkata, where land is reportedly being sold back to the original seller. Such actions are creating a sense of disappointment and distrust among members of the armed forces community.
Mr. Mohan Singh, spokesperson of the Defence Forces Welfare Organisation, stated that had these lands been developed into plotted housing projects, thousands of ex-servicemen would have applied. He termed such resale of land as contrary to the welfare objectives of defence personnel and indicative of AWHO deviating from its core mission. He further highlighted that over the past five years, not a single new project has been implemented, despite nearly three lakh soldiers retiring during this period, with around one lakh requiring housing in urban areas.
He also expressed concerns regarding the authenticity of the demand survey conducted for these projects, suggesting that it does not reflect the ground reality. He emphasized the need for a fresh, transparent, and comprehensive survey, which is likely to reveal demand far exceeding current estimates.
In the larger interest of the military community, it is strongly urged that the process of resale of such land be immediately put on hold. Furthermore, a detailed demand survey should be conducted to assess the actual requirement of defence personnel seeking housing in Jaipur and other cities. Decisions regarding these projects should be taken transparently based on the findings of such surveys.
The military community remains hopeful that timely and appropriate action will be taken by the concerned authorities, and that AWHO will realign itself with its foundational objective of providing affordable and accessible housing to those who have served the nation with dedication.
