Various Schemes, which are of direct benefit to the people, are being implemented under this programme:

Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY) was launched by the Prime Minister on December 2, 2001, with a view to ameliorating the conditions of the urban slum dwellers living below poverty line by providing them with dwelling units and the facility of community toilets. The cost of the scheme is shared between Centre and the States on 50:50 basis. So far a sum of Rs. 590.00 crore has been allocated and 2,13,066 Dwelling Units as well as 28,753 Toilet Seats have been sanctioned.

Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) seeks to provide gainful employment to the urban unemployed or under employed poor through encouragement of self-employment ventures. This programme is funded in the ratio of 75:25 between the Centre and States. Upto 2002-03, a sum of Rs. 600.22 crore was released to the States/UTs. During 2003-04, an amount of Rs. 100.74 crore has been tentatively allocated. Under self-employment component of the scheme, 4,81,733 beneficiaries have been assisted by now and 5,15,540 persons trained in various Skills. So far, 27,515 DWCUA (Scheme for Development of Women and Children in Urban Areas) groups have been formed and 68,695 women beneficiaries assisted. 1,00,968 Thrift and Credit Societies have also been formed under SJSRY. Number of beneficiaries covered under the community structure component of SJSRY is 317.01 lakh. Under the wage employment component of SJSRY, 474.38 lakh mandays of work was generated.

Earlier known as ‘Shelter and sanitation facilities for the footpath dwellers in urban areas’ the scheme was comprehensively reviews and modified in 2001-02. As on October, 2003, HUDCO has sanctioned 115 night shelters/pay and use toilets. On completion, it would provide 16,959 beds, 18,495 WCs, 2,147 baths and 1,928 urinals.

It provides additional Central assistance to the States for the development of urban slums. Upto October, 2003, a total amount of Rs. 2,238.51 crore has been released to the States/UTs. Out of this 1,556.03 crore has been spent and 3.49 crore slum dwellers have been benefited.

Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme (AUWSP) aims at solving the drinking water problem in towns having population less than 20 thousand as per 1991 census. The scheme is funded by Centre and State Governments in the ratio of 50:50. Out of 2,151 eligible towns under AUWSP, 929 towns have been covered from 1993-94 to October, 2003. Out of this, 599 towns have been covered from October, 1999 to October, 2003 and a Central assistance of Rs. 423.56 crore has been provided.

The scheme provides for conversion of existing dry latrines into low cost water seal pour flush latrines and construction of new sanitary units to prevent open defecation. The scheme is being operated by providing subsidy from the Ministry and loans from HUDCO. From 1999-2000 to 2003-04 (till October, 2003) the Ministry released Rs. 76.75 crore as subsidy. HUDCO released Rs. 136.73 crore as loan and Rs. 132.13 crore as Government of India subsidy during the same period. So far, 8,80,150 units have been constructed in 330 towns.

The programme envisages addition of 20 lakh dwelling units every year – 7 lakh in urban and 13 lakh in rural areas. Even though the Ministry is basically responsible for 7 lakh urban houses with major portion (4 lakh houses) being financed by HUDCO, the Ministry has asked HUDCO also to finance 6 lakh rural houses under its ongoing programme. Since 1999-2000 to 2003-04 (up to November, 2003) 36,60,571 housing units and a loan of Rs. 13,480 crore has been sanctioned by HUDCO.

The Ministry issued guidelines to DDA for formulating a draft Master Plan for Delhi 2021. It assigns a greater role to private sector for planned urban development. Building bylaws for Delhi have been modified to provide for unhindered movement of disabled persons in public buildings and to promote rain water harvesting. DDA announced 13 Housing Schemes during the period (1999 – to date) and allotted 41,698 flats and 7,903 plots.

Interest rates charged on House Building Advance were slashed. There has been an overall reduction of 2.5 per cent in the rate of interest during the period. CPWD added 3,873 quarters in the general pool and the ladies pool was augmented.

Hundred per cent FDI has been allowed for integrated townships. So far, the Government has approved two proposals for Gurgaon and Hyderabad.

The Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System, popularly known as Delhi Metro has been envisaged as a means of easing traffic congestion in the city. Construction commenced in October, 1998. Phase I of the project gets completed in 2005 and is expected to transport 21.82 lakh passengers daily. The project has generated employment for about 10 thousand persons during its implementation stage. The project has continued to remain on schedule with the first section of Shahdara - Tis Hazari covering a distance of 8.3 kms commissioned in December, 2002. Another section, measuring 4.7 kms. between Tis Hazari – Inder Lok (earlier Tri Nagar) has been commissioned on October 3, 2003. Foundation stone of Barakhamba Road – Dwarka line (22.8 kms.) has also been laid on June 3, 2003.

During the period 1999-2000 to 2003-04 (till October ’03), 506 small and medium towns have been covered and Central assistance amounting to Rs. 314.01 crore has been released. The scheme aims to lessen the burden on large cities by increased investment in the integrated development of small and medium towns.

The scheme applies to Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad (Population 10 lakh and above) and covers infrastructure development projects of city wide/regional significance. A sum of Rs. 401.10 crore has been spent on the scheme since 1999-2000 to 2002-03. An allocation of Rs. 19.90 crore has been made for the current year 2003-04.

Adopted in July, 1998, thrust of the policy is on creation of an enabling environment for all round growth of housing sector. Policy aims to provide a roof for each household by 2010. The Policy initiatives taken by the Ministry include:

• A model Apartment ownership bill and a Model Property Regulation Bill circulated to States for simplifying and streamlining the procedure of transfer/registration.
• Repeal of Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulation) Act through the repeal Act of 1999. States are required to repeal the Act by adoption of resolution.
• Adoption of Model Rent Act by several States.
• Several fiscal concessions granted to boost housing construction.
• Promotion of new cost effective & environment friendly building material and technology.
• Authorised capital of HUDCO increased from Rs. 1,250 crore to Rs. 2,500 crore.

An Urban Reforms Incentive Fund was conceptualised in the 2002-03 Union Budget to provide reform linked incentives to States. Reform areas include Repeal of Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act, Rationalisation of stamp duty and to bring it down to 5 per cent by the end of X Plan period, Reform of rent control laws, computerisation of registration process, Reform of property tax, Levy of reasonable user charges by Urban Local Bodies (ULB) and introduction of double entry system of accounting in ULBs.

MoUs have been signed between Government of India and States of Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Tripura, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Kerala, Haryana, Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, A&N Island, West Bengal, Orissa, Nagaland and Delhi. Also guidelines for City Challenge Fund (CCF) and Pooled Finance Development Fund have been finalized and these schemes are to be launched shortly.