Question : HOUSING UNITS TO SLUM DWELLERS

(a) whether the Government has taken up or is likely to take up any plan for the rehabilitation of the slum dwellers in various parts of the country whose slums have been removed / shifted in order to modernize various cities in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of housing units being provided to the slum dwellers, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to provide sufficient numbers of such houses to slum dwellers;

(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor alongwith the action proposed to be taken in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION (KUMARI SELJA)

(a): In pursuance of the Government’s vision of creating a Slum-free India, a new scheme ‘Rajiv Awas Yojana’ (RAY) has been launched on 02.06.2011. The Phase I of Rajiv Awas Yojana is for a period of two years from the date of approval of the scheme. The Scheme will provide financial assistance to States that are willing to assign property rights to slum dwellers for provision of decent shelter and basic civic and social services for slum redevelopment, and for creation of affordable housing stock.

(b),(c), (d) & (e): The scheme has been approved in 2 phases, phase I during the period 2011-2013; and phase II from 2013 till the end of the 12th Plan. The Scheme is expected to cover about 250 cities, across the entire country by the end of 12th Plan (2017). The selection of the cities will be done in consultation with the Centre. The States would be required to include all the mission cities of JNNURM, preferably cities with more than 3 lakh population as per 2001 Census; and other smaller cities, with due consideration to the pace of growth of the city, of slums, predominance of minority population, and areas where property rights are assigned. The scheme will progress at the pace set by the States. An amount of ` 99.98 crores has been released to 157 cities for undertaking preparatory activities under Slum Free City Planning Scheme as per list enclosed. As the scheme has been approved on 2nd June 2011, construction of housing units is yet to begin.