Government committed to make India slum-free: Girija Vyas

JAIPUR: Union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Girija Vyas today said the Centre is committed to make India a slum-free country, and the ambitious 'RajivAwasYojana' has been brought in for the purpose.

Vyas was on her visit to Jaipur after being assigned the Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry in recent Cabinet reshuffle.

She said the UPA government was pursuing vision of a slum-free India by providing housing facility under 'Rajiv Awas Yojna' in 48 cities across 16 states of the country.

Rajiv Awas Yojana will provide financial assistance to states willing to assign property rights to slum dwellers for provision of decent shelter and basic civic services for slum redevelopment and creation of affordable housing stock, she said.

In the first phase, about 43,000 houses have been sanctioned, she said, adding that 55 projects of housing and basic amenities to slum dwellers of 48 cities in 16 states with an outlay of about Rs 2500 crore was approved.

Every state has been asked to prepare a master plan for slum survey in a month's time so that RAY can take off in a time-bound phase, she said.

Vyas asserted that there will be no discrimination in allotment of funds to the states, whether it was ruled by the BJP or the Congress.

Expressing shock over death of people in Uttarakhand floods, Vyas said rehabilitation work will be undertaken by the ministry on war footing as soon as the situation normalises.

HUDCO and Rajiv Swaran Jayanti scheme would be applied in Uttarakhand to those who lost their houses, she said.

The Union minister said two new bills -- one for the welfare of street vendors', and another on real estate -- will soon be brought in the Parliament.