[India] Future slum projects to have clause of security tenure: Selja

from New Kerala

Slum projects henceforth will have the essential clause of a security tenure, Union Minister of State for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja said today.

Any new proposal for slum rehabilitation would have security of tenure as an essential clause along with education, health services access to electricity and drinking water under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Scheme, she said.

"We feel that slums should not be disturbed as far as possible. However, there are times when the landowner has no choice but to evacuate. In that case they should be relocated," Selja told reporters here after inaugurating the National Resource Centre for Urban Poverty.

When asked if this meant the slum land would not be used for any other purposes, the minister said, "We do not say that. Earlier the slum land was spread out. Now the rehabilitation will be vertical, thus saving land, where other community services such as markets, parks and schools can be built for the rehabilitated slum dwellers." Stressing that slum rehabilitation should not be a piecemeal affair, she said all plans whether at the local self government level or the central level should have a holistic approach.

"The Centre has the desire to help and has the funds as well. However it is upto the state to present a proposal for Mumbai to us. We cannot tell Mumbai what is good for the city," she said.

The National Resource Centre for Urban Poverty, inaugurated by the Minister will focus on issues relating to urban poverty alleviation and suggest strategies to combat it to the ministry.