Rehabilitating slum dwellers a ‘failed’ project

Even as migrant population continues to stream into the Capital, the authorities have failed to keep pace with rehabilitation and/or relocation of those who sought refuge on government land. HT reports.

Even as migrant population continues to stream into the Capital, the authorities have failed to keep pace with rehabilitation and/or relocation of those who sought refuge on government land.

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There are about 860 slum JJ clusters housing around 35 lakh population in Delhi. Of these, procedure for rehabilitation and relocation of only about 226 JJ clusters has been carried out or initiated.

"In April-May-June 2011, 15,000 people filled the forms. But they found only 7,600 persons eligible," said Jawahar Singh of Jhuggi Jhompri Ekta Manch.

Singh lambasted the policy of relocation to places such as Bawana, Narela and Borgarh.

"For urban local bodies to be self sufficient, their 'land' is the most valuable. Governments prefer to send people far away rather than rehabilitate/up grade at the same spot," said Dunu Roy from Hazard Centre, an NGO.