Centre has released nearly 8 crore rupees under Rajiv Awas Yojna RAY, for preparatory activities to make nine cities in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh slum free. Quoting sources in the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, AIR Jalandhar Correspondent reports, RAY is part of government’s vision to create slum-free India.

Under the scheme, 50% cost of providing basic civic and social infrastructure and housing for slums would be borne by the Centre. Punjab has got more than 5.83 crore for undertaking preparatory activities under Slum Free City Planning (SFCP) in five districts of the state–Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Bhatinda.

Faridabad, Yamunahagar and Panipat have been chosen in Haryana which has got 1.51 crore rupees, whereas Shimla in Himachal Pradesh has been allocated 63.84 lakh rupees.

RAY was launched on June 2 this year, and is expected to be implemented in 250 cities of the country by the end of 12th five year plan in 2017.