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The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), popularly famous as the leading housing authority in the nation, has evolved its way of functioning over the past 75 years in response to changing times. As a result, it has established itself as a premier institution in the field of housing sector. Whether it’s advancements in housing construction systems or the adoption of modern technology in its functioning, MHADA has consistently led the way. Being a citizen-centric organization, MHADA’s operations aims at transparency and beneficial to the public. Working on the main objective of providing own home to the last section of the society , MHADA has provided homes to the nine lakh families in the state. Since its inceptions to ensure the transparent distribution of houses built by MHADA to citizens, the organization has utilized a lottery system, whether manual or computerized. MHADA implements a fair system to allocate houses to the general public across all income groups through the lottery system.

In line with the challenges of changing times, MHADA has upgraded its computerized lottery system for the distribution of houses using advanced technology. In this article, we will explore how, with the help of the IHLMS 2.0 computerized lottery system, MHADA can distribute houses to citizens across the state in a transparent, fully online manner, without human intervention. With the Changing Times, to facilitate the sale of houses constructed by MHADA, the organization has implemented significant changes in its present computerized lottery system, incorporating advanced technology to make the lottery process entirely free of human intervention. As a result, the lottery process has become more transparent, convenient, and secure. The entire procedure, from applying for an apartment to taking possession, is now conducted online.

A new computerized lottery system, IHLMS 2.0 (Integrated Housing Lottery Management System), has been developed for the sale of houses in MHADA’s housing projects across the state. This system utilizes blockchain technology, where the information and documents submitted by citizens in digital form will be permanently stored. Besides this system is so protected that no one can tamper with any document in the storage. If at all anyone tries to sneak entry into the system, it will raise alarm. Also the system automatically updates as needed. Citizens can register for participation in the lottery through an open-ended registration process. During registration, applicants will receive a unique number, which will be used to create a permanent profile in the new
computerized lottery system.

This new computerized lottery system will be a boon not only for MHADA but also for applicants. IHLMS 2.0 , the lottery app is available on MHADA’s official website and on the IOS and Android mobile phones. The aspiring applicants can apply for the lottery from anywhere and anytime. To begin with, the aspiring applicant would register himself with his personal mobile number , emailed, Aadhar card and PAN Card. Here the applicants Profile is created in the system. Both his Mobile and Email are verified through OTP. The next step involves submission of the required seven documents.

The IHLMS 2.0 system enables instant and accurate verification of applicants’ documents. In the previous lottery system, applicants’ eligibility was confirmed after they are declared successful in the computerized lottery draw. However, in the new system, applicants will be deemed eligible for MHADA’s housing lottery once their documents are verified by the system. In other way we can say that the application verified by the system and declared eligible can only participate in the computerized lottery draw. Thus, the eligibility of applicants will be determined before the lottery, and only those deemed eligible will be able to participate. Under the previous method, 21 documents were required from successful applicants for eligibility verification, but the new system will demand only seven documents. Affidavits, selfdeclaration forms, and acceptance letters will be generated by the computerized system itself, and applicants will be required to sign them online using their Aadhaar e-signature.

The IHLMS 2.0 system has been linked with various government databases, including DigiLocker, MahaOnline, Income Tax, Aadhaar, caste certificates, domicile certificates, and PMAY Applications, to facilitate instant online verification of applicants’ documents. Additionally, templates for all necessary certificates for various categories will be available in the system. Applicants will need to fill in the information in these certificates according to their reserved category and print the certificates for verification by the relevant authorities.

However, The system provides facility for the applicant to make changes in their personal information in the lottery profile at any time. Thus they must keep their profile updated regularly. Whenever MHADA announces a lottery, eligible applicants will be able to participate in any housing lottery by just uploading the fresh ITR. And later they can pay the earnest money deposit (EMD) amount for the desired apartment. Information about successful applicants who wins the house in the lottery will also be stored in the system. If such applicants tries to participate in the lottery again after taking possession of a MHADA House., their application will be automatically canceled by the system, and they will be notified via SMS and email accordingly.

Under the previous system, the process from the lottery draw to eligibility verification and handing over possession typically took about a year, and in legal cases, it took nearly 8 to 10 years or even more.

However, under the new computerized system, since the applicant’s eligibility is confirmed before the lottery draw, applicants will receive the lottery results via SMS on their mobile phones and emails immediately after the online computerized lottery is announced. Additionally, the next day, successful applicants will receive a provisional approval letter online. This has actually reduced the manpower and time required to fix the eligibility and verification of the successful lottery winners by authorized officers and appeal officers in the previous system. Moreover, the new system will help achieve transparency, speed, and a reduction in legal disputes.

The new computerized system Draw module has a facility of auto conversion of tenements for which applications are not received. By doing this the count of vacant tenements is reduced and the number of allotment of tenements increase. The system code review is done by IIT Mumbai and the same system is used for Draw by matching the hashcode generated by IIT Pawai Mumbai to make sure there is no change in the code of Draw Module.

The new computerized system has auto waitlist operation against tenements surrendered by applicants or the tenements which are cancelled by Mhada against non-payment of installments and dues. The new IHLMS 2.0 system is also integrated for online e-registration of applicants who have made full and final payment. The applicant can book online appointment for e-registration and visit MHADA office for executing his online agreement. This agreement is digitally signed by MHADA authority and is submitted to SRO for digitally signing the agreement. After receiving the signed agreement by SRO a copy of the same is uploaded on applicants login and same is available to engineering department of Mhada for issuing of the keys to applicant for his final possession.

The vision of Mhada was to develop a system which will have end-to-end facility from registration till registry for allotment of houses without any manual intervention and transparent system by not making applicant to visit MHADA office which is been accomplished by developing and implementing IHLMS 2.0 system for Mhada and also other government organizations.

It may be recalled that since 2000, MHADA has been using a transparent computerized lottery system for apartment sales, moving away from the traditional manual lottery process. MHADA has earned the trust of all of Maharashtra through the transparency of this computerized lottery. Considering the challenges of changing times, MHADA has once again utilized advanced technology and a new system to make its computerized lottery system userfriendly, straightforward, easy, and completely online for the general public.

Views expressed by – Savita Bodke, Chief Information and CommunicationTechnology Officer, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA)

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