Slum dwellers to move into livable homes

Fighting poverty

About 500 slum dwellers living in eight slum clusters across the city became proud owners of low-cost flats on Wednesday. The flats were built and allotted by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board.

The flats were allotted under the ‘rehabilitation of slum dwellers’ scheme, following guidelines laid down by the union housing ministry and under the urban poverty alleviation programme of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit handed over allotment letters to 40 eligible beneficiaries, while 460 others were given the letters at a function at Delhi secretariat. 

Congratulating the allottees, Dikshit said a good beginning has taken place in the direction of providing well-developed flats to a large number of slum dwellers.

“The DUSIB has given thrust to the construction of flats at Narela, Bawana and Dwarka, and at least 35,000 flats are under construction. These will be ready soon and we will be able to allot them at the earliest,” she said. She said her government has been working hard to shift slum dwellers to flats located in clean, green and healthy atmosphere.

According to government officials, 14,000 flats have already been built and the remaining 13,500 will be alloted soon. The flats are being allotted in the joint names of couples on ‘lease hold’ basis for 15 years. Thereafter, they will be converted to freehold basis.

Beneficiaries are required to make a nominal payment of Rs 60,000, and in some cases a little more. 

The government is providing 100 per cent subsidy for Scheduled Castes allottees, so they will get the flats absolutely free. Dikshit said the government has prioritised 75 slum clusters for relocation, for which DUSIB has conducted a survey of about 16,000 slum dwellers in 33 slum clusters. The eligibility of 1,350 slum dwellers has been determined so far.

Urban development minister A K Walia said a socio-economic survey of all slum clusters in the Capital is being conducted to map the total slum population.

“A slum-free strategy document is also being prepared. To provide tenancy security and availability of finance, the flats are being allotted on ‘lease hold’ basis. A biometric authentication of beneficiaries is being conducted to prevent duplication and sale of flats as well,” said Walia.