Date:02/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/02/stories/2009070256621800.htm

National

Centre to promote new scheme for slum-free India

Special Correspondent

Rajiv Awas Yojana will focus on property rights to slum dwellers

— PHOTO: PTI/ Subhav Shukla

Unveiling plans: Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Tourism Kumari Selja, with Minister of State of Tourism Sultan Ahmed (centre), at a press conference on the release of the 100-day agenda for the Ministry in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: The Centre will formulate a new scheme for slum dwellers and the urban poor in an effort to promote a slum-free India in the next five years.

The Rajiv Awas Yojana will focus on according property rights to slum dwellers and urban poor by the States, providing basic amenities and enabling the construction of houses through access to subsidised credit.

Announcing the 100-day agenda of her Ministry, Union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja said it would explore the possibility of partnership between the urban poor, municipalities, parastatal authorities, State and the Centre and private developers to create affordable homes for the urban poor. The Centre would extend support to States that were willing to assign property rights to people living in slum areas, she said.

Legal framework

The Ministry will develop a model legal framework for consideration by States and Union Territories for according property rights to slum dwellers and urban poor. The model will draw on best practices both within and outside the country and circulated to the States and UTs to enable them to establish their own legal-regulatory frameworks suiting local conditions. It will cover the provision of security of tenure to the urban poor and also making land available for affordable housing, basic amenities and informal sector activities of the poor through the process of urban planning.

Ms. Selja said an effort would also be made to include cities with a population of 5 lakh and above under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and all projects implemented under it would be subject to social audit, a manual for which would be circulated to the States and UTs.

Further a skill development programme for employment promotion for the urban poor will be launched to enable them to access wage employment offered by the market or undertake self-employment.

The target will be 10 lakh over the next 5 years, starting with 2 lakh in 2009-2010. The focus will be on imparting quality training and skill certification through reputed institutions or skills training providers so that the urban poor youth can enhance their income and improve their living conditions.