The Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday approved the modified policy guidelines for allotment of 7,900 low-cost houses to jhuggi-jhonpri dwellers under its ambitious Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojna.
Speaking about the decision, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the 7,900 flats at Bawana, Narela, Bhorgarh, Gogha and Bapraula have been constructed by the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation and are almost ready for allotment. Allotment to the residents of 44 jhuggi-jhonpri clusters would be taken up as part of the scheme. The multi-storey residential complexes have been provided with civic amenities such as schools, shopping centres for essential items and public transport system.
The average size of the flats will be 25 square metres and the allottee will have to contribute Rs.60,000 which will be arranged as a soft loan. The Union Government will contribute Rs.1,19,000, the contribution of land owning agency will be around Rs.90,000 whereas the Delhi Government’s contribution will be Rs.62,000.
Noting that the JJ clusters will be identified in phases as per the determined priority, Ms. Dikshit said the Slum and JJ Department has been made the nodal agency for relocation and rehabilitation of jhuggi-jhonpri clusters from the land belonging to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Government.
Besides, the Railways, the Delhi Development Authority, the Land and Development Office and the New Delhi Municipal Council have been empowered to carry out this process themselves as per the policy of the Delhi Government.
It was also stated that the cut-off date of residing in jhuggis for making a jhuggi-jhonpri dweller eligible for allotment would be December 31, 1998. For availing themselves of the scheme, the applicant’s name should be there in the voters’ list as on the referred date and they should also posses a ration card issued on any date before the cut-off date or up to the date of survey.
The eligibility criteria also lays down that the annual income of the family of the allottee should not be more than Rs.60,000 and that he or she much must be a citizen of India and not less than 18 years of age on the date of eligibility. Besides, neither the allottee nor any of family members should own any plot or permanent house in full or in part in Delhi.
A priority list for relocation of JJ clusters will be prepared by Slum and JJ Department in consultation with the Urban Development Department of the Delhi Government. It is also necessary that the name of JJ dweller should figure in the joint bio-metric survey conducted by Slum and JJ Department with representatives of concerned land owning agency.
Each dweller will be entitled to only one residential flat even if he or she may be occupying more than one dwelling unit. However, no flat will be allotted if the jhuggi was being used for commercial purpose. And in case the jhuggi was a multi-storey one for residential purpose, the allotment will be considered to the occupant of the ground floor only.
The Chief Minister said in order to enhance the status of women it has been decided to make allotment in the joint name of the husband and wife with bio-metric details along with photos of both. The allotment of flat will be made initially for 15 years, which may be extended later, and the flat would be allowed to be used only for residential purpose.
