A major decision, which has been long overdue on the rehabilitation of lakhs of slum dwellers here, was taken at the 36th Board Meeting of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The meeting decided that the residents of all eligible slum clusters established in Delhi up to January 1, 2025, will be entitled to rehabilitation benefits.
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According to the Chief Minister, this landmark decision will pave the way for permanent and dignified housing for approximately 4-5 lakh families, or nearly 20 lakh people, living in JJ clusters across the capital.
A meeting was held at the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday, which was attended by Delhi’s Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma and senior officials from the concerned departments.
The decision is in line with the outcomes of a recent high-level review meeting chaired by Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and the provisions of the Delhi Slum and JJ Cluster Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy 2026.
Chief Minister Gupta said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the HM, unprecedented efforts have been made across the country to provide the poor with dignified living conditions, better housing and essential amenities.
She said that in Delhi as well, the government is working swiftly to rehabilitate slum residents in line with the spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’ and the commitment of Har Gareeb Ko Pakka Ghar.
For many years, a large number of families were unable to avail rehabilitation benefits because of the earlier eligibility cut-off date, CM said, adding that with the revision of the cut-off date, a much larger number of eligible families will now be able to benefit from the scheme.
She noted that the decision will open the door to permanent housing for around 4-5 lakh families, or nearly 20 lakh people, living in various JJ clusters across Delhi.
Eligible families will be provided multi-storey flats equipped with all essential civic amenities.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the government’s role will not be limited to providing housing alone, all necessary social and civic infrastructure required for a better quality of life will also be ensured.
These colonies will include Anganwadi centres, schools, health centres, children’s playgrounds and other basic facilities.
The new policy is also taking into account the realities of family expansion, and in cases where members of the same family are living in separate units on different floors within a slum structure, a provision is being considered to bring them within the ambit of rehabilitation as well, subject to payment of the prescribed additional charges.
The government will take forward rehabilitation work in mission mode through the PPP model to ensure that every eligible family receives safe, dignified and improved housing , Gupta added.