Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday directed the Delhi Development Authority and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board to issue tenders for the rehabilitation of five jhuggi-jhopri (JJ) clusters within 45 days.

The announcement came under a new scheme — the Delhi Slum and JJ Cluster Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2026, which replaces the 2015 policy and expands the scheme’s coverage. Mr. Shah said the new policy will benefit four lakh families. He asked the Delhi government to notify it at the earliest.

New cut-off date

Under the new policy, the eligibility cut-off date for JJ cluster residents would be January 1, 2025 instead of the earlier cut-off of January 1, 2015. Those eligible will be provided accommodation in “rehabilitation colonies”. The Union Home Minister issued the directions at a review meeting attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Lieutenant-Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, and several senior officials.

Mr. Shah asked the Delhi government to roll out at least five rehabilitation projects every month under the public-private partnership model and prepare tenders for an additional 50 JJ clusters.

The Union Home Minister said rehabilitation colonies should not be limited to housing units alone.

“Adequate provision should be made for community facilities such as anganwadi centres, educational institutions, health centres and playgrounds,” an official release stated.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India is committed to the upliftment of Antyodaya and Garib Kalyan,” the statement quoted Mr. Shah as saying.