Govt. to identify residents living in congested spaces and provide them housing

Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib announced on Wednesday that the government is launching an initiative to identify Malé residents living in severely overcrowded and confined spaces and provide them with appropriate housing solutions.

Speaking at a press conference, he said that during President Mohamed Muizzu’s door-to-door visits in Malé, it became clear that many long-time residents are unable to redevelop their homes for various reasons, or are compelled to divide already limited spaces to accommodate extended families.

The Minister noted that these families have long struggled with land shortages in the capital and often fail to qualify for assistance under existing government housing schemes. He described seeing extremely narrow alleyways where individuals must turn sideways to pass, as well as homes lacking proper ventilation and basic living standards.

"We have seen alleys so narrow that a single person has to walk sideways to enter. There are living quarters with absolutely no ventilation—places that are unfit for human habitation and below basic living standards," the Minister remarked.

He stressed that the government’s goal is to actively locate such households and take targeted action to improve their living conditions. "The intent is not merely to establish a set of rules for people to apply, but rather to specifically identify and document families living in such vulnerable conditions and assist them in overcoming those circumstances," he explained.

The Minister noted cramped living environments contribute to a range of social problems, which can only be effectively addressed by directly supporting the most disadvantaged families. He added that the government is working on introducing the necessary policy reforms to implement the initiative.

Public concern continues over the large number of people living in cramped or deteriorating homes in Malé. Many have also expressed frustration that residents who already own land are often excluded from government housing and land programs, despite their plots being extremely small.