Slum free India in 5 years: Dream or Reality?

UPA government has adopted an ambitious target of making India slum-free in five years with President Pratibha Patil announcing the launch of a special housing scheme for urban poor and slum-dwellers. The President has claimed that her government's effort will be to create a slum free India in five years through the Rajiv Awas Yojana. Sources say if 10,000 people live in a 100-acre slum or illegal colony, around 50 acres will be used to relocate them to new houses. The rest of the land is likely to be used for commercial or even high-end residential development. The government may use this access to cheap land as an incentive to get private players on board as partners. Housing units under this scheme should cost between Rs 5 to 7 lakh, and will boast a minimum carpet area of 250 square feet.

If the Manmohan Singh government's ambitious plan for a "slum free" India, becomes a reality some 62 million-plus people living in the country's urban shanties will have a home of their own.

Do you appreciate govt's plan? How it can work?

Giving homes to people residing in the slum areas is not the permanent solution of the problem. Do you agree?