(a) whether the Government has received any request for rehabilitation of poor
families living on railway land near the railway tracks in various cities of Gujarat;
(b) If so, the details thereof;
(c) whether his Ministry proposes to take necessary steps for the rehabilitation
of these poor families in co-ordination with the Ministry of Railways and the State
Government of Gujarat; and
(d) If so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION (SHRI AJAY MAKEN)
(a)& (b): Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) was launched on 02.06.2011. Under Rajiv Awas Yojana,
Central Assistance is extended to States that are willing to assign property rights to
slum dwellers and undertake reservation of land for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)/
Low Income Groups (LIG), earmark 25 per cent of municipal budget for basic services to
the urban poor/slum-dwellers and bring in legislative amendments and policy changes to
redress land and affordable housing shortages for the urban poor. Fifty per cent (50%)
of the cost of provision of basic civic and social infrastructure and amenities and of
housing, including rental housing and transit housing -for in-situ redevelopment in
slums - would be borne by the Centre. However, for the North Eastern and Special Category
States the share of the Centre would be 90%, including the cost of land acquisition, if
required.
The Phase I, the preparatory phase, of Rajiv Awas Yojana, which is for a period of two
years from the date of approval of the scheme, i.e. till June 2013, is currently under
implementation, to undertake preparatory activities and pilot projects.
The scheme emphasizes a ‘whole city’, ‘whole slum’ approach. In respect of Central
Government land it is expected that the agencies concerned will work in cooperation
with the State Governments / Urban Local Body, and design suitable solutions to
redevelop /relocate the slums with due property rights given to slum dwellers.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has received requests from various
authorities for rehabilitation of poor families living on railway land near railway
tracks in the cities of Gujarat under Rajiv Awas Yojana. However, proposals from
State Government have not yet been received.
(c) & (d): The Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation has drawn attention
of the Central Government land-owning Ministries/Departments including Ministry of
Railways to the guidelines circulated by the Ministry for preparation of innovative
pilot projects under RAY with the objective of evolving, demonstrating and
establishing models that can thereafter be up-scaled. Under these guidelines pilot
projects submitted by Central Government Ministries/Departments, including the
Ministry of Railways and Central Public Sector Undertakings are also eligible for
central assistance. Central Government land owning Ministries/ Departments have
been advised to issue necessary instructions to the agencies concerned under them
to explore the possibilities of preparing innovative pilot
projects for redevelopment of slums on their land and seek Central assistance.
A meeting of State Ministers in charge of Housing was held to discuss various issues
of implementation of RAY Scheme, including slums on various categories of land. The
issue of slums on Central Government lands, including on Railway lands was taken up
in the meeting of Committee of Secretaries having representation of various land-owning
Ministries such as Railways, Forest, Civil Aviation, Defence etc. The Ministry of
Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has held
several deliberations with Central / State Governments, land owning Ministries /
Departments to arrive at a policy solution to redevelop / relocate the slums on their
land including on Railway lands, under Rajiv Awas Yojana. A Secretary level bilateral
meeting was held between Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty
Alleviation. The Central Government Ministries and Departments have been requested to
take up slum survey and other preparatory activities and prepare pilot projects for
seeking Central assistance support under the current phase of Rajiv Awas Yojana.