Administration to launch slum rehabilitation project in Shimlapuri

Ludhiana, January 14, 2025: The district administration is set to launch a slum rehabilitation project in the Shimlapuri locality soon. A preliminary survey of the Shimlapuri slum has identified 50 families, totalling a population of 400, which includes 300 children. 

In the initial phase of the project, the Education Department will offer counselling to slum children to facilitate their admission into appropriate classes based on individual learning assessments. The health teams will conduct screening camps to assess the health of the residents and provide necessary treatment. Additionally, the department will also ensure the enrollment of eligible individuals under the Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana (SSBY) scheme. 

Additionally, the Social Security Department will assist eligible individuals in enrolling in various pension schemes. The District Bureau of Employment and Entrepreneurship (DBEE) will provide skill training for parents to help them secure respectable livelihoods. The MC Ludhiana will ensure cleanliness besides community sanitary complex in the slum. 

During a meeting in his office today, Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal emphasized the importance of education and health as the foundation of any society. He explained that with strong foundations, societal development becomes inevitable. He announced that teams of different departments will begin working in the slum areas starting next week, and they will submit their reports accordingly. Based on these reports, a detailed strategy for the rehabilitation of the slum will be developed.

Jorwal highlighted that this project will serve as a stepping stone to secure a bright future for children in the slum by facilitating their admission into nearby schools after proper educational counselling. A system will be established to ensure that students attend classes regularly. Additionally, he mentioned that the skills of the parents will be assessed, and they will receive training to help them earn a respectable livelihood by making them skilled. 

The Deputy Commissioner stated that upon the successful completion of this project, the district administration will focus on rehabilitating more slum areas. He also noted that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the holistic development of the community, and every effort will be made to support the people in this endeavour.

Additional Deputy Commissioners Amarjit Bains, Rohit Gupta, Chief Minister Field Officer Kritika Goyal, SDMs Jasleen Kaur, Poonampreet Kaur, and others were also present at the meeting.