Statement by India at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group 27^th Session (1-12 May 2017) on Housing: 3^rd UPR of India. [Geneva, 4 May 2017]

   Thank you, Chair. The right to housing remains a priority for the government which has launched a programme named “Housing for All - Mission 2022” to provide better and affordable housing facilities to rural poor, urban slum dwellers and other economically weaker sections of the society. This would also achieve the objectives of SDGs on sustainable cities and communities.

2. The selection of beneficiaries for the Programme has been through a rigorous process using Socio Economic Caste Census conducted during June 2011 to March 2016 covering each household in the country. The three deprivation filters namely genuinely poor homeless, households living in dilapidated houses and the households belonging to vulnerable groups of women have been adopted for selection of the beneficiaries.

3. To ensure inclusive access to housing, this Mission also provides preferential allotment of housing facilities to all the marginalized communities including the minorities. This census has ensured selection of beneficiaries on the basis of objective criteria without any kind of discrimination.

4. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 mandates a humane, participative, informed and transparent process for land acquisition and also covering the post acquisition social and economic rehabilitation of all the affected persons.

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