(a): whether the Union Government has any scheme for setting up of shelters for the homeless in those States experiencing heavy monsoon, so as to prevent deaths during the rainy season;
(b): if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
(c): the details of the financial and other assistance provided to these States for this specific purpose during each of the last three years and the current year?
THE MINISTER OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION (KUMARI SELJA)
(a) to (c): ‘Housing’ and ‘colonization’ being State subjects, the primary responsibility of providing shelter lies with the State Governments. Central government however, provides financial assistance to states through various schemes. It is currently supporting states to provide shelter, tenure security and basic amenities to slum dwellers, under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), create affordable housing stock through the ‘Affordable Housing in Partnership’ Scheme, reduce cost of home loans with 5% interest subsidy under Interest Subsidy Scheme for Housing the Urban Poor (ISHUP) Scheme and provide support for shelter, and basic civic & social services for slum redevelopment and creation of affordable housing stock to States that are willing to assign property rights to slum dwellers under Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY).
Earlier, from 1988-89, the Ministry provided financial support to states to create shelter for the houseless under the scheme for ‘Night Shelter for Urban Shelterless’. Cumulatively, under the erstwhile scheme of Night Shelter for the Urban Footpath Dwellers, 97 schemes seeking inter alia 17341 beds, 15603 toilet seats, 2015 baths and 2102 urinals were sanctioned covering 15 States/Union Territories. The scheme was transferred to the state sector in 2005-06, and financial assistance from the center on this account was discontinued.