Will India be slum free?

Country:  India

8 June 2009

The government of India last week announced an ambitious target of making India slum free within the next five years, with the launch of a special India housing scheme for urban poor and slum-dwellers.

President Pratibha Patil said: “My government's effort will be to create a slum free India in five years through the Rajiv Awas Yojana [the name of the housing scheme].”

Patil said the existing schemes for affordable property in India, including interest subsidy offer, would be merge into the Rajiv Awas Yojana project.

“The scheme for affordable housing through partnership and the scheme for interest subsidy for urban housing would be dovetailed into the Rajiv Awas Yojana… [and will offer] property rights to people living in slum areas,” the President said.

The government’s attempts to make India slum free in five years will not be an easy one. According to the ministry's data, urban housing shortage is around 25 million units and most of it, around 98%, is in the low-income group and economically weaker section category.

See Also:   India