Delhi approves slum rehabilitation cut-off to benefit 20 lakh residents
On Tuesday, the Delhi government approved slum rehabilitation benefits for all eligible residents of settlements established up to January 1, 2025. The decision, finalized during a key board meeting in Delhi, is expected to benefit nearly 20 lakh people and facilitate permanent housing for approximately 4 to 5 lakh families living in JJ clusters across the capital.
The decision was taken during the 36th Board Meeting of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and attended by Delhi’s Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma, and senior department officials.
According to the Chief Minister's Office, the decision aligns with the Delhi Slum and JJ Cluster Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy 2026. It also follows a recent high-level review meeting chaired by Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah.
Under the approved rehabilitation scheme, eligible families will receive multi-storey flats equipped with essential civic amenities. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that the revision of the cut-off date will allow a much larger number of families to benefit from the program.
Gupta emphasized that the government's role will not be limited to providing housing. The state plans to ensure that all necessary civic infrastructure is established in the new rehabilitation colonies to support a better quality of life. These new colonies will include Anganwadi centres, schools, health centres, children’s playgrounds, and other basic facilities.
The housing colonies for the slum dwellers will be developed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, with the Delhi government working in coordination with the Central government.
Additionally, the policy addresses the realities of family expansion. In cases where members of the same family reside in separate units on different floors within a single slum structure, the government is considering a provision to include them within the rehabilitation framework, subject to the payment of prescribed additional charges.
