The old French city of Puducherry is witnessing a rise in rental population, with those residing in rented houses going up by 4.6 per cent in the last decade.
According to the Primary Census Abstract, as many as 31.1 per cent of the population resided in rented houses in 2011, compared to 26.5 per cent in 2001. In urban areas, 38.9 per cent is living in rented houses as compared to 34.8 per cent a decade ago, while in rural areas it is 14.2 per cent as that of the 10.9 per cent in 2001.
This increase in rental population is also attributed to the rising migrant population in the Union Territory.
The mushrooming of professional colleges and the government’s Financial Assistance Scheme has drawn more and more people to Puducherry, said J Jayapragasam, Deputy Director of Census Operation.Former secretary to government S Hemachandran too echoes the view.
There are 13 engineering colleges and nine medical colleges in Puducherry. Those who have studied in Puducherry for a minimum period of five years were given residency certificate. Hence, many people move to Puducherry when their children are in middle school, aiming for the seats under government quota. Getting an engineering seat through the Centralised Admission Committee of the government and availing of the benefits of the Financial Assistance Scheme is not a difficult task as their is no limit on the number of students. There are reservations for Puducherry residents in JIPMER too. Forty seats are reserved for Puducherry folks, said sources.
Benefits like low tax and welfare schemes, including freebies, have also induced migration in the last decade. This is vividly seen in the 77.2 per cent growth in population in Yanam region with a lot of people from Andhra Pradesh having moved in to Yanam region.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram is also drawing people from across the globe. Moreover, those who have managed to admit their wards to the Sri Aurobindo International school, shift their base to Puducherry.
With increase in migrant population, housing needs have also gone up. The entire Vaithikuppam- Kuruchikuppam area is witnessing a lot of construction activities. Builders are busy constructing apartments for outright sale. With the demand for houses on the rise, many purchase flats as an investment and are renting them out.
Migration is also there in the hotel industry as well as in factories. Majority of the hotels are engaging workers from other states, even north east states and Nepal, said S Balasubramanian, state secretary of CPM, who is fighting for the rights of migrant workers.
