Food, clothing and shelter, in Hindi ‘Roti, kapda aur makan’ are the basic requirements of human beings. All other requirements are of secondary nature for human life. Pakistan’s former firebrand Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto won the popular election riding on this slogan. No wonder, Indira Gandhi did not forget to use this slogan with an innovative edge — Garibi Hatao. Drive away poverty. No wonder she was successful.
Many decades before the Congress party realised the importance of providing shelter to the homeless, in the Kingdom of Mysore, the then Maharaja had decided to provide shelter to his subjects in Mysore city. He set up a Trust known as the City Improvement Trust Board (CITB) entrusted with the responsibility of providing low-cost houses and housing sites after forming Housing Colonies and Layouts. The result was the birth of Vidyaranyapuram, NR Mohalla, Vani Vilasa Puram, Saraswathipuram etc.
