The government has publicized the evaluation criteria for the physical verification process to assess the current living conditions of applicants under the ‘Hiyaa’ public housing scheme.

The criterion for a number of categories under the scheme have been publicized in the government gazette following publication.

According to the Committee Investigating Public Housing Schemes, the criterion has been compiled with the technical expertise from the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

Further, the committee announced the decision to withhold the specifics of the evaluation standards until the temporary lists of flat applicants are publicized as it might lead to fraudulence if the evaluation criteria is disclosed publicly before the inspection process is completed.

The criterion is set for the H4, category for doctors and nurses, H5 category specialized for teachers, H6, category for single parents, H7, category for married individuals aged between 18 and 40, H8 category specialized for Malé residents, H9, category for those registered in the Malé municipality as well as the H10 category for persons with disabilities and their family.

‘Hiyaa’ was launched during the administration of now incarcerated, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and was initially to provide 7,000 housing units located in Phase Two of Hulhumalé. However, it was reduced to 6,720 in order to set up commercial areas on the ground floor of each tower, during the incumbent administration.

China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited was tasked with the construction of 16 25-story towers under the public housing scheme. An agreement was signed between the state and the company in July 2016, to complete the project within two years. The construction work under the project commenced during December the following year.

The Committee Investigating Public Housing Schemes was formed by the incumbent administration to investigate whether the then-administration had issued flats deservedly.