Mobilenews24x7 Bureau
Odisha will be slum free by December 2023 and all slums will be developed into model colonies, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced here on Thursday.
Launching the programme for land rights to slum dwellers in five Municipal Corporation areas in
the state, Patnaik said drone surveys have been started in five Municipal Corporations of the
state to give land rights to the slum dwellers.
The Tata Steel Foundation will provide technical support for this. An agreement has been signed between Jaga Mission and Tata steel Foundation in the presence of the Chief Minister for the purpose.
Dedicating 707 model colonies in 33 urban areas and announcing Hinjilikatu and Digapahandi as slum free, Patnaik said Biju model colony is being developed providing basic facilities to the slum dwellers along with land rights.
He claimed that the “Jaga Mission programme” launched by the state government has been appreciated world over.
The Union government has also given awards for this new idea. So far 1.70 lakh families in slum areas of 105 urban areas have been given land rights under this programme.
The Chief Minister announced to give land rights to 2.5 lakh families in slum areas by December 2023.
Describing Jaga Mission, which started in 2017, as a spiritual journey, Patnaik said the “journey has brought enough success and satisfaction for us”.
The spiritual journey will continue till it brings long term happiness in the lives of 17 lakh slum dwellers, he added.
The slum development associations, Patnaik said, will manage the Biju Model colonies. Arrangement has been made to utilise 25 percent of the funds of urban local bodies for the development of slums.
