New Delhi: Despite the country's robust economic growth, the number of people living in slums is likely to cross 93 million by 2011, marking an increase of around 23 percent since 2001.
A committee set up by Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has projected this figure, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
The main reasons for increase in slum population are influx of a large number of workers to cities without commensurate job opportunities and non-availability of housing
and basic amenities, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja said in a written reply.
She cited high cost of living, housing, transport and education and inadequate provision of land for housing as some other reasons for increase in slum population.
Selja said her ministry has begun the process for formulation of a new scheme for providing support to states that are willing to provide property rights to slum dwellers.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 02, 2010, 15:13