Odisha has taken a monumental step to empower the urban poor by awarding
land ownership certificates to 65,000 underprivileged families residing in slums
across five cities: Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, and Rourkela.
Odisha is the only state in India to provide land rights to slum dwellers.
Financial assistance would also be extended to these beneficiaries to facilitate
home construction. The programme will persist until all impoverished families
in these cities obtain land rights.
To date, over 240,000 families in various cities across the state have received
land rights, with an additional 40,000 families receiving assistance for housing
construction. With the goal of creating slum-free communities, these
settlements are being equipped with essential amenities. Currently, 1,010
settlements in 68 urban areas have transitioned.
The program also saw the inauguration of 1,010 colonies, with special
recognition given to the cities of Cuttack, Khordha, Koraput, and Jajpur for
their exceptional work in creating these model colonies.
The issuance of land rights certificates signifies a significant step towards social
empowerment, equality, and improved living conditions for thousands of slum
dwellers in Odisha.
