Half-house business venture

The concept that a house is only for living in is old. Many people spend all their life savings to build or buy a house. But with proper planning, a house can also be used as a source of income for the future. In big cities, people often rent out part of their houses to earn some extra money. Though the income may not be very high, it still helps. Professionals like lawyers, chartered accountants, and doctors can use part of their houses as offices. Some people also rent out space for artistic activities and earn a good income. Others run beauty clinics, embroidery units, or similar small businesses from their homes. Even though not everyone can do this, such efforts should always be encouraged.

In this context, the government’s decision to change licensing rules so that up to half of a house’s total area can be used for business purposes is very welcome. When business ventures are started, local young men and women will definitely get job opportunities there, and this will also indirectly help reduce unemployment. Earlier, it was not allowed to use 50% of a house for business, and licenses were often not given. Now, this will change. The permission fee for business units will range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 30,000, and the registration fee from Rs 100 to Rs 15,000. This will also increase the local self-government department’s own funds.

This decision gives relief to the new generation of entrepreneurs. Licenses will mainly be given for two categories of businesses. Category one includes small factories, workshops, and units run by steam, water power, machinery, or electricity. Category two covers trade and commercial enterprises. Mobile sales and service units, mobile restaurants, and houseboats will need special licenses. Vehicles used as mobile restaurants or service units will also be considered as buildings for licensing purposes. Licenses will be issued for Category Two enterprises under the Pollution Control Board’s White and Green categories in all buildings—except apartments, flats, lodges, seminaries, orphanages, old age homes, tourist homes, service villas, hostels, and conference halls—without considering usage restrictions.

However, even when governments issue such notifications, people who apply for licenses often face too many hurdles and difficulties. If this continues, entrepreneurs may lose interest. Therefore, every panchayat should create a special business-friendly system for issuing such licenses. Coordination between local self-government officials and industry department officials is also important. In the coming years, migrating to other states or foreign countries for jobs may not be easy. So, every house becoming some kind of small business unit should be encouraged as much as possible.