The second phase of the Rajiv Awas Yojana will cover all cities in the country irrespective of population. Any town recommended by the State governments will be included in the project. Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Ajay Maken said this while answering supplementaries in the Lok Sabha today. He said the Centre is to allocate 30 thousand crore rupees to the States to implement the scheme. The first phase of the Rajiv Awas Yojana will continue till 2014. The second phase of the scheme is intended to overcome the shortage of about one crore 87 lakh houses in the urban areas. Mr. Maken said that 35 percent dwelling units will be reserved for the economically weaker sections. The houses under the scheme will be constructed through public-private partnership. Mr. Maken said loans
up to five lakh rupees will be provided to the weaker sections. The
scheme aims at eradicating slums in the urban areas, the Minister
added.