Rehabilitation for most slum dwellers, in-situ relocation focus of new policy, Pg4

Key Highlights:

• The Delhi Slum and JJ Cluster Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2026, is set to be notified.
• It extends the eligibility cut-off date for rehabilitation to January 1, 2025, making most slum dwellers eligible.
• The policy aims to benefit approximately four lakh families, or 20 lakh people, in the national capital.
• A key focus is in-situ relocation, prioritizing housing close to existing slum clusters.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting, and Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood announced the policy details.

Detailed Insights:

• The new policy replaces the Delhi Slum Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy 2015, which had a cut-off date of January 1, 2015.
• Extending the cut-off date is intended to make the relocation process smoother by ensuring more families are eligible, reducing resistance.
• The policy includes a new provision allowing family members living on upper floors of slum units to be eligible for rehabilitation with an additional charge.
• Initial tenders for rehabilitation under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode will be issued for five slum clusters.
• These clusters are located in Mayur Vihar, Seelampur, Sultanpuri, Lajpat Nagar, and Pitampura.
• The government has reiterated its promise of "Jaha Jhuggi Wahan Makan" (housing where the slum is).
• Beneficiaries will be required to pay a sum ranging from Rs. 1.12 lakh to Rs. 1.41 lakh to acquire a house.
• The previous policy saw slow progress, with only two in-situ projects completed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in Ashok Vihar and Kalkaji.
• The PPP model involves private developers constructing housing for slum dwellers and commercially developing the remaining land to recover costs.
• DDA has faced challenges in attracting private developers for PPP projects due to small land parcels, difficult locations, and frequent litigation.
• The Kathputli Colony project, conceived in 2008, is an example of a delayed PPP redevelopment project.

Key Concepts Involved:

• In-situ rehabilitation: Providing housing to slum dwellers at or very near their existing location, minimizing displacement.
• Public-Private Partnership (PPP): A long-term contract between a public entity and a private party for providing public assets or services.
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): A category of individuals or families with an annual income below a specified threshold, eligible for government benefits.
• National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT): A quasi-judicial body in India that adjudicates issues relating to Indian companies, including insolvency proceedings.