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As per Census of India, 2001 the total number of households in urban areas having no house of their own and living in rented houses under private ownership are 15,317,352.
The number of households having drinking water source away, beyond 100 meter or so in urban areas without having proper facilities of pure and treated drinking water is 5,036,316.
A National Housing & Habitat Policy (NH&HP) was evolved in 1988 with a goal to facilitate construction of adequate housing facilities, particularly for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG). The policy envisaged a major shift in Government’s role to act more as a facilitator than as a provider. Accordingly Two Million Housing Programme was launched in 1998-99 under which 7 lakh dwelling units are to be constructed in urban areas and 13 lakh in Rural areas every year.
In addition to this a newly sponsored scheme called Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojna (VAMBAY) was launched on 2.12.2001 with a view to provide shelter or upgrade the existing shelter for the urban slum dwellers living below poverty line who do not possess adequate shelter.
Based on the recommendations of the working Group on Urban Water Supply & Sanitation Constituted by Planning Commission, funds to the tune of Rs. 28240 crore would be required for achieving population coverage of 100% with drinking water supply facilities. To supplement the efforts of the state governments, a Centrally Sponsored Accelerated urban Water Supply Programme (AUWSP) was launched in 1993-94 to provide Central Assistance to state governments on 50:50 matching grant basis between centre and the state for implementation of water supply scheme in small towns numbering 2151 having population less than 20,000 as per 1991 census. As on 7.3.2005, Ministry of Urban Development has approved Water Supply Scheme for 1219 small towns at an estimated cost of Rs. 1783.06 crore under the AUWSP and released an amount of Rs. 711.48 crore as central share for implementation of the approved scheme.
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja in her written reply to the question raised by Shri Matilal Sarkar and Shri Tarini Kanta Roy in Rajya Sabha today.
HRK/Aa
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