When the Pradhan Mantri Housing Scheme was announced, Siva Sathyamoorthi felt elated. He thought his dream of constructing a house would soon be fulfilled. Unfortunately it still remains a distant dream, thanks to the slackness shown by Government servants.

A construction worker, Siva Sathyamoorthi managed to buy four cents of land at a reserve site in Mettupalayam. He had been saving money to build a house there.

The housing scheme came as a relief for him but only then he realised that he does not have a patta for his land. He registered online for the same on July 25, 2016 in Irumborai village.

“For the last one year, I have been running from pillar to post. But I have not received any proper response from the officials. Every time I go to the government office, officials promise to expedite the process. But nothing has happened so far,” he said.

In 2008, the Tamil Nadu Government introduced online registration for pattas and in 2011 some changes were introduced in the procedures. As per rules, the applicant should receive patta within 30 days of registration. “Its more than 10 months now since I registered. I have decided to go on hunger strike,” Sathyamoorthi said.

However, officials were unavailable for comments.