Chandigarh Slum rehab raises concern with MHA panel

Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs has expressed concerns over the slum rehabilitation programme of the Chandigarh Administration. The committee, headed by Sushma Swaraj, has in its report recently tabled in the Rajya Sabha also said that those schoolchildren displaced because of closure of schools in residential areas, should be adjusted.
As per the panel report the administration has informed that some of the people, who were given ownership, have sold their tenements and houses and again encroached upon the government land.
The Committee has appreciated the programme of U.T Administration of Chandigarh to rehabilitate the slum dwellers by constructing dwelling units and giving them on rent for Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000 per month.
However the committee has further stated that even though the UT Finance Secretary has stated that the rent is a very reasonable amount which they will be paying and that their monthly income is around Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4000 per month, the committee is apprehensive about the capacity of the slum dwellers to pay Rs. 1,000 per month as rent.
The Committee, therefore, has felt that this aspect may be taken care of. The Committee has also desired that the construction of units may be started and completed at the earliest so that shifting of slum dwellers may also be done as early as possible. The target of three years for completing the construction may strictly be adhered to.
In regard to Technology Park started in Chandigarh, the Committee has recommended that all efforts may be made to ensure that the Technology Park is completed in all respects at the earliest.
As per the UT status report to the committee most of the schools have shifted from the existing residential area to new sites. Some of the sites are under construction and also stated that second shift has been introduced in schools to accommodate greater number of students.
In regard to closure of schools in the residential areas of Chandigarh, the committee has felt that the issue has become very sensitive in view of the fact that it is likely to affect the future of many students.
Even though the administration has informed the Committee that the second shift has been started in some of the schools to accommodate the students from the closed schools, all the students will not get admission in such second shifts.
The Committee, therefore, has recommended that the Chandigarh Administration should not allow this to happen and ensure that every student from all such closed schools may be immediately provided admission in the existing schools by opening second shift and/or increasing the class strength whichever is necessary.
The Chandigarh Administration should also impress upon the managements of the closed schools to start their schools in the new campuses as early as possible, the committee has said, adding, the Chandigarh Administration may regularly monitor the situation and find a lasting solution to this problem.