Family that got three times lucky

NEW DELHI: The Gautams got three times lucky. The three siblings – Rahul, Poonam and Preeti Gautam – all under 30, became proud owners of a one-bedroom flat each in Kondli on Tuesday. Listening to their father’s advice, they had all applied for the DDA scheme 2010, and while their father too had applied, he was the only one in the family to draw a blank.
While this might have been big news for the family, they treated it like any other.Poonam (24), who is a computer engineer, and Preeti (25), working in the social welfare department, went off to work. Their brother, Rahul(22), the third allottee who is still searching for his dream job, was at home with his father, Surinder Kumar, who works at the Punjab National Bank. Surinder said: ``When I saw others seeking loans to apply for the housing scheme, I thought my children too should try their luck and asked them to apply. I also had applied but wasn’t so lucky.’’
“I am very happy that my children have properties in their name. Now, it is up to them to make the payment for these flats. I advised them to apply for these as they were affordable and there were a large number of flats - around 1800 - in Kondli. This increased the probability and it worked,’’ said Surinder. His
eldest son, Pradeep, had not applied.
Rahul said that all three sibilings were planning to retain the flats. ``We are all happy but don’t want to have undue expectations. I will now have to figure out a way to pay for the flats. We checked the results on Monday night but couldn’t believe it,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, with more than one member in a family having been allotted a flat, BJP has started alleging foul play. The DDA, however, clarified: “The Gautam family had applied for flats in Kondli where there were a large number of flats. Moreover, the family had applied under the scheduled class category which has a reservation of 17.5%. All three of them are independent and can therefore be allotted flats under the scheme. A family unit comprises of husband, wife and dependents in which case only one is allotted a flat. Since the draw happened using a system of randomized numbers, there is no question of any tampering. Their random numbers are also quite far apart,’’ said DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar.
That, however, did not prevent Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta from alleging bungling. He cited the case of the Gautam family and that of a Jain family where the father and his four sons have each got a flat, according to him. Gupta claimed that blackmarketeers would purchase papers from the people who had been declared successful in the draw of lots and earn a heavy profit. “Needy persons will not be able to get houses even after draw of lots,’’ he added.