Delhi government notifies policy to provide permanent homes for 500,000 slum families

The Delhi government notified a new rehabilitation policy on Thursday to provide permanent housing for approximately 400,000 to 500,000 families living in slum clusters.

The policy aims to house nearly 2 million people by offering one-bedroom, hall, and kitchen flats. Officials stated that the plan focuses on in-situ rehabilitation, meaning the government prefers to build housing at the current site or within a 3-km radius to help residents stay near their jobs and schools.

The new rules apply to families in slum settlements established before January 1, 2025. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the goal is to provide dignity and security rather than just clearing land. The government will provide separate housing units for independent families who live on different floors of the same structure, provided they meet the necessary documentation requirements. Families with people with disabilities will receive priority for ground floor units.

To manage the transition, the government will pay for maintenance and security in the new complexes for five years after the first allotment. After that period, beneficiary associations will manage the common facilities. Developers working under public-private partnerships must provide temporary housing or rent assistance to families during construction. The government plans to use a computerized lottery for housing allotments and a digital platform to track project progress and prevent duplicate applications.