18.78 million urban housing shortage in country

The urban housing shortage in the country was estimated at 18.78 million in 2012, Lok Sabha was informed today.
Out of the total urban housing shortage of 18.78 million, 10.55 million was in economically weaker section category, 7.41 million in lower income groups category and the remaining 0.82 million in the middle and above category, Urban Housing and Poverty Alleviation Minister Venkaiah Naidu said in a written reply to a question in the House.
The government has set a target of providing housing for all by 2022, Naidu said.
The Government has constituted a technical group on estimation of urban housing shortage of the country for the 12th Five-year Plan.

He said the government had launched the JNNURM in December 2005 for assisting state governments in providing housing and basic civic services like water, sanitation to urban poor under the integrated housing and slum development programme.
JNNURM has been extended up to March 2015 for completion of projects sanctioned up to March 2012.
He said the government has also launched Rajiv Awas Yojana in June 2011 for providing housing facility under the scheme.