An ambitious programme to provide housing to urban poor has been launched at an estimated cost of 5000 crore rupees. The programme started under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission aims at building over 1 million houses for the low and middle income groups with atleast 25 per cent being specially for the economically weaker sections. The scheme aims at partnership between various agencies of central and state governments along with local bodies and developers. The Ministry of Urban Poverty Alleviation has also provided part financial support to state governments to prepare slum profiles and household profile of slum dwellers to identify the below poverty line and low income population. Under the Basic services to urban poor scheme, over 462 projects have been approved in over 60 cities for constructing close to one lakh dwelling units while under another project of Integrated Housing and Slums, over 52 thousand dwelling units are to be constructed across the country. Official sources said that a non lending technical assistance of close to 1 crore 84 lakh rupees has been granted to National Housing Bank by the World Bank for low income housing finance. Two pilot projects, one of 500 units in Ahmedabad and other for 330 units in Mumbai is being constructed under the plan. The projects assume importance in light of reports that 99 per cent of the housing shortage in urban areas pertain to the economically weaker sections and low income groups. Our correspondent reports that with more than 23 per cent of urban population living in slums, the core focus Urban Housing Policy is 'affordable housing for all'. Government reports say that the shortage of housing for the economically weaker section is over 21 million, while in the low income group it is close to 3 million. <br/> <br/>