After Rahul’s promise, party to provide flats, property rights to slum dwellers

Slum dwellers will be given flats with a carpet area of “more than 25 sqm and up to 40 sqm”.

Rahul Gandhi.

A day after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi promised Delhi’s poor the right to housing, the party released a draft of a possible Act to provide housing, shelter and property rights to slum dwellers.

Introducing the draft bill, AICC general secretary Ajay Maken said, “The purpose of the Act is to ensure housing, shelter and property rights to slum dwellers, who do not own land in urban areas,” he said.

Maken said slum dwellers will be given flats with a carpet area of “more than 25 sqm and up to 40 sqm”. The woman head of he family will be given legal documents of entitlement to this property.

The proposed law guarantees “basic civic services”, including drinking water, drainage and sanitation, electricity, road and street lighting, in all slum development plans.

He said slum dwellers will be included in the planning and the Act will ensure that they are able to raise money for their housing units like any other property owner. “No money will be taken from slum dwellers. A ‘slum redevelopment fund’, with funds from budget allocations of local bodies, the Delhi government, Government of India and CSR, will be utilised,” he said.

Naveed Iqbal

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram