(a) whether the Union Government is planning to bring National Slum Development Policy;
(b) if so, the salient features thereof;
(c) whether any comprehensive study has been made to identify the number of slums and affected people in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps being taken for development of slums in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN EMPLOYMENT & POVERTY ALLEVIATION ( KUMARI SELJA)
(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.195 FOR 14.12.2004 REGARDING NATIONAL SLUM DEVELOPMENT POLICY
(a)&(b): Slum Development is a State subject. The State Governments formulate specific plans, programmes and schemes for
development of slums in various cities as per their priorities and make necessary provisions therefor, in their respective
State Plans.
(c): State Governments survey and take stock of slums in their respective States. However, the Town and Country Planning
Organization (TCPO) conducted a one-time study on slums and brought out a report titled `A Compendium on Indian Slums-1996`.
According to this report, the estimated slum population of the country in 1991 and 2001 was 462.608 lakhs and 618.258 lakhs
respectively. An attempt has been made for the first time during India the Census of India, 2001 by the Registrar General
of to collect detailed data about slum areas of the country, particularly in cities/towns having 50,000 population or more
based on 1991 census. As per the provisional figures of Census of India, 2001, the number of towns reporting slums is 607
and the total provisional slum population of these towns is reported at 402.97 lakhs.
(d)&(e): To improve the living standards of slum dwellers by providing the basic facilities, Environmental Improvement
of Urban Slums(EIUS) Scheme is being implemented in the State Sector. Besides, National Slum Development Programme (NSDP) was
launched by the Central Government in August, 1996 to ameliorate the living conditions of slum dwellers. Under this programme
Additional Central Assistance is being provided to the States/UTs for provision of basic amenities. In 2001, Valmiki
Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY) was launched to provide shelter or upgrade the existing shelter for people living below the poverty
line in urban slums. There is also a component for providing community toilets under Nirman Bharat Abhiyan.