In an attempt to woo the electorates ahead of assembly polls, chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a rehabilitation housing scheme for the residents of Sanjay Nagar Bhatta Basti under Rajiv Gandhi AwasYojana (RGAY). Gehlot also extended the date of ongoing “Prashasan Shahron Ke Sang” campaign.
Touted as one of the biggest housing projects in the country under the slum development, the state government will construct 12,000 houses with an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore. In the first phase, 2,212 houses will be built spending Rs 96 crore. All residences will be duplex with two rooms.
“I am happy that a poor man can now get a roof over his head. Our government is committed to make the state slum-free with giving right to shelter to everyone. With planned growth, there will be better facilities for education and healthcare too,” said Gehlot. He also said the Prashasan Shahron Ke Sang campaign will be extended up to July 31.
India has 18 million homeless people. Rajasthan shares nearly 10% of it with 1.8 million living without a roof and the number keeps increasing. In a recent survey conducted by a government agency, slums have increased from 2 lakhs to 4 lakhs in less than seven years.
Minister for urban development Shanti Dhariwal stressed that the Congress government is with the poor and committed to remove poverty. “Against the target of 1 lakh affordable houses under Rajasthan government scheme, we have constructed 28,000. For the rest, tenders will be issued by June 27,” said Dhariwal.
The event witnessed the presence of education minister Brij Kishore Sharma, Congress MLA Pratap Singh Khachariawas and Mayor Jyoti Khadelwal.
src: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Govt-to-build-12-000-houses-for-the-poor/articleshow/20582302.cms