A general view of Swabhiman Apartments at Ashok Vihar built to rehabilitate slum dwellers
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday handed over the keys of newly constructed flats for slum dwellers in north-west Delhi’s Ashok Vihar to 1,675 beneficiaries. During the ceremony, Mr. Modi mentioned that he had lived in the area during the Emergency.

Recalling Emergency

“At the time [Emergency], I resided in Ashok Vihar. That is why the memories return whenever I come here,” the PM said while addressing the beneficiaries at Ashok Vihar’s district park.

During the event, several beneficiaries of the Swabhiman Apartment in situ slum rehabilitation project were called onto the stage and handed over symbolic cardboard keys.

The rehabilitation project is similar to the one in south-east Delhi’s Kalkaji Extension that Mr. Modi inaugurated in November 2022 ahead of the municipal election that was won by the Aam Aadmi Party.

When Md. Manjoor Shah moved to Delhi from Bihar’s Madhubani district, he did not imagine owning a house in the Capital. “Ab shauk poora ho gaya hai (Desire has now been fulfilled),” he said after interacting with the PM and receiving his keys.

Mr. Shah, who weaves mats for a living, stated that he and his family felt glad when Mr. Modi called them “residents of Ashok Vihar”.

Under the scheme, ₹25 lakh is spent by the government on building a flat, and eligible beneficiaries pay less than 7% of the total amount totalling ₹1.42 lakh as a nominal contribution and ₹30,000 for five years of maintenance.