Working Groups for the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012)

Urban Housing and Urban Poverty with focus on Slums

Dated 1st May 2006

In the context of the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12), it has been decided to set up a Working Group on Urban Housing and Urban Poverty with focus on Slums. The composition of the Working Group will be as follows:

2. The terms of reference of the Working Group are as follows:

1. To assess the magnitude of the housing needs during the Eleventh Five Year Plan in all its dimensions of different sections of the Urban Population, particularly the poor, (as also handicapped and aged sections of society).
2. To review critically the policies, performance of programmes of the State governments in the Tenth Five Year Plan with particular reference to the achievements of prescribed objectives and targets and pinpoint the shortcomings in respect of urban housing.
3. To evolve objectives, strategies and physical and financial targets for investment in urban housing in the public, private, Cooperative and self-help sectors covering augmentation, renewal upgradation and retrofitting of housing stock.
4. To review implementation of Reforms by States and ULBs. Review of steps already initiated for provision of Housing and basic services in mission cities and IHSDP in non-mission cities under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). To suggest priorities under these programmes and to estimate the outcomes which can be achieved under this mission during Eleventh Plan.
5. To review the steps taken by the Central Government, State Governments, public sector housing agencies, cooperative sector, housing finance companies, urban local bodies for the growth of housing activity as envisaged in the National Housing and Habitat Policy and recommend specific changes, if any, in the existing fiscal, institutional and legislative framework in addition to the identified areas as well as the new initiatives to be taken in this regard.
6. To suggest specific measures for strengthening the data base on housing at the Centre as well as in the State.
7. To review the extent of application of available cost saving house construction techniques in the housing programmes and the need for further research and development in this regard. To suggest policies for seismic proofing. To suggest how alternatives to timber/wood can be given a major policy push and how engineered bamboo could be popularized.
8. To assess credit needs, to suggest appropriate policies including required changes in provisions in respect of mortgages and securitisation of debt.
9. To identify the reasons for fast growth of slums in the urban centres including macro-economic issues affecting urban growth especially migration from rural/semi-urban to the urban areas and suggest measures for strengthening the data base on slums.
10. To review critically the policies, strategies adopted by the State governments and programmes to deal with problems of slums in different Plan periods including slum development programmes with the assistance of NSDP funds and JNNURM and suggest measures to deal with the situation at the State level as well as at the Central level.
11. To review critically the incidence of urban poverty and performance of poverty alleviation programmes of the State Governments and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of SJSRY during the Tenth Plan and suggest measures for improving the implementation of programmes.
12. To suggest specific policies for allocation of Ian J for EWS/LIG housing; to suggest the role that can be played by rental housing.
13. To suggest policies and programmes for development of housing in new towns.
14. To suggest measures how FDI could help in the increase of housing units.
15. To examine and make recommendations regarding all other matters relevant and incidental to the above terms of reference.

3.1 The Chairman of the Working Group may co-opt any additional member(s), official or non-official and constitute smaller group, sub-groups as may be considered necessary.

3.2  The expenditure on TA/DA of the official members in connection with the meetings of the group will be met by the respective Government Department/Institutions to which they belong. TA/DA of non-official members will be borne by the Ministry of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation as admissible under Government Rules.

4.   The  report  of the Working  Group may  be submitted  to  the Planning Commission within four months.