The Hindu : New Delhi News : Congress committed to improving the lot of slum dwellers: DPCC chief

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Congress committed to improving the lot of slum dwellers: DPCC chief

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president J.P. Agarwal said over the weekend that his party would improve the living conditions of slum dwellers in the Capital.

Addressing a meeting at Rajiv Bhawan here, Mr. Agarwal said he wanted to ameliorate the sufferings of people living in jhuggi-jhonpris as they had been solid supporters of the Congress. “They have helped the party to keep its flag afloat,” he said.

Assuring that no more jhuggi-jhonpri clusters would be removed till the Government allotted specified plots or flats for them, the DPCC president said the Delhi Government had initiated a number of steps for resettlement of those living in the slum clusters. “These include allotment of low-priced flats of which about four lakh are being constructed. In the first phase, around 10,000 flats would be allotted to the jhuggi-jhonpri cluster residents between September and October this year, while 60,000 flats would be readied for allotment to the poor by next year.”

Mr. Agarwal said the flats are being constructed under the Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojana scheme. “For the benefit of the poor, a National Health Insurance Scheme has also been started under which smart cards would be distributed to the poor who possess Below Poverty Line ration cards. They would then be able to get medical facilities at over 80 hospitals in Delhi,” he added.

Recalling the work done by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Mr. Agarwal said she was the first leader to take constructive steps to make life easier for the poor. “She realised the plight of the jhuggi-jhonpri cluster dwellers and provided them electricity, water and well-paved streets. As a result of Ms. Gandhi’s personal initiative, schemes were put in motion for the resettlement of jhuggi-jhonpri cluster dwellers and they were provided with plots and residential accommodation. Now under the dynamic leadership of Cong- ress president Sonia Gandhi the party would continue to serve the interest of the poor in the years to come,” he said.

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