Public members who gathered at the premises of the Ministry of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure (MNPHI) have demanded to know the awarding mechanism and details of the conducted verification to assess living conditions of the applicants.
Multiple issues have surfaced after the permanent recipients' list was publicized by the ministry on Saturday, November 4.
Members of the public suspect possible collusion in the evaluation process that granted the in-development 4,000 social housing units in Hulhumale' 2 by Fahi-Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC). With over 20,000 individuals applying for the first round of the Gedhoruveriya scheme, 13,000 were eligible for housing.
MNPHI's Permanent Secretary Zeeniya Ahmed met with the public gathered at the ministry on Sunday, November 5 and attempted to address to their concerns. She said that points were awarded based on how applicants completed their forms.
However, this was contested by the public present at the ministry at the time stating it was unfair.
"How can points be awarded just like that without assessing living conditions. Based on that, applicants would receive higher points for false information as well, isn't it?" an applicant present at the ministry said.
"First of all, points should be reflected beside the applicant when they released the interim list. When we are supposed to file complaints to the interim list, the point should be visible, but it was included on the permanent list only."
Many complained they received lower scores than they deserved and pointed out to instances where applicants had received more points despite less deserving of it.
"I have a wife and three kids, and have been living in small apartments here in Male' for over 30 years. But people who shifted to the city way after us, and people who had not lived here for 15 years were among the eligible applicants entitled for the housing units," another said.
Though points were reflected on the permanent list, many questioned the authenticity of the awarding system. Many had raised concern since the process of awarding points were not specified on the permanent list. Others said that even if the awarding system was not publicly made available, it should be accessible individually for each applicant through the Gedhoruveriya portal.
While members of the public continued to demand for a meeting with the minister of the state minister, MNPHI staff insisted to submit complaints through the portal.
After Akram Kamaluddin, the State Minister of MNPHI, stepped in to the ministry's lobby to address public concerns, he was directed with several queries. Many alleged that people affiliated with or related to senior officials and parliament MPs of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) were awarded higher points.
In response, Akram said that points were awarded based on the information provided by the applicants.
Additionally, he announced that the complaint window for the permanent list was now open.
To challenge this, many of the public members demanded to cancel the list and reevaluate the applicants again.
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