Mayawati launches Rs 2,000-cr scheme for slums

Uttar Pradesh government has launched an ambitious Rs 2,000-crore scheme for the redevelopment of urban slums, predominantly inhabited by dalits.

The scheme has been named as Shri Kanshiram Ji Shahri Dalit Bahulya Basti Samagra Vikas Yojna (Urban dalit dominated slum composite development scheme). In the first phase, 250 slums would be identified across 72 districts of Uttar Pradesh by the respective local committee headed by the district magistrate/divisional commissioner.

Slum redevelopment has been attracting the attention of policymakers of late both at the state and Central levels, since the country’s slum dwelling population is estimated at over 90 million. The state’s new scheme is exclusive of other programmes underway targeting urban poor and slum dwellers.

 

Announcing the launch of the scheme here recently, UP cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh had told the media that things would be visible on ground in the next four to five months after the slums had been identified and their master plans prepared.

The respective master plan of the slums would be prepared by Chief City Planner in the next two months.

The selected slums would be institutionalised by providing social welfare support under 18 heads, including medical, health, education, ration card, scholarship and street lighting.