Slum Free Cities: Odisha Aims to Transform Slums into Model Colonies in 3 Yrs

Odisha Government has always strived to safeguard rights and improve quality of life of poor: CM

CM dedicates 116 “PARICHAY” – the multi purpose community centres in slums

Distribution of Land Entitlement Certificates to 1,05,000 families living in 1718 slums in 101 towns begins

Bhubaneswar: In a historic move towards achieving slum free cities in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched the ‘Slum Upgradation Programme’ under the Jaga Mission.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that his government has always strived to safeguard the rights and improve the quality of life of the poor and the marginalised people in the state. Whether it is about protecting lives and livelihoods during natural disasters, working for the empowerment of women, protecting the interests of small farmers or securing the land rights of slum dwellers – we have always put the needs of the poor first; as we believe that the hard work and contribution of the poor are the source of the remarkable social and economic development of our state, he added.

The Chief Minister said, “When faced with the daunting and global challenge of urban poverty we made a similar choice – we could either continue treating slum dwellers as encroachers, evict them and push them deeper into an unending cycle of poverty and deprivation; OR we could recognise the immense contributions they make to the social and economic life of our cities, empower them with land rights, improve their living conditions and break forever the cycle of indignity and deprivation”.

“We decided to empower them with the JAGA Mission that laid the foundations of a new humane and inclusive urban development model.
This model has received international acclaim as the largest slum titling and upgradation initiative in the world and been awarded the prestigious “World Habitat Award -2019”.

The Chief Minister has launched the next stage of JAGA Mission – the slum upgradation and de-listing initiative.

This slum upgradation and de-listing initiative, aims to improve the living conditions of 18 Lakh slum dwellers by providing them with piped water supply, paved roads, storm water drains, street lights, sanitation, household electricity, community spaces and recreational areas. But more importantly, it encourages the participation of the slum dwellers themselves in the upgradation process.

The process shall start immediately in 1000 slums and then scaled up to cover each and every slum in the state within a period of 3 years to make the state slum free.

Naveen also dedicated 116 “PARICHAY” – the multi purpose community centres in the slums & the upcoming more than 400 such facilities which would act as the social lifeline of the slum communities .

He also announced the commencement of the distribution of Land Entitlement Certificates to 1,05,000 families living in 1718 Slums in 101 Towns benefitting 4.5 Lakh population.

While Odisha is putting up a brave fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, this upgradation initiative will enhance the collective resilience of the slum dwellers by improving their lives and livelihoods, the CM added.