The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presided over a function for distribution of keys and ownership certificates for EWS houses built under the Integrated Housing & Slum Development Project at Jiwaji University, Gwalior today (October 3, 2016).

Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated the Government of Madhya Pradesh and people of Gwalior for their city getting selected for development under the "Smart City Programme” of the Government of India.He said that it is indeed heartening to be present on the occasion when a number of residents, till now living in slum like conditions, are being provided the ownership of houses of their own.

The President said that he was happy that through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, efforts were being made to provide housing to every homeless in the country by 2022. He said that solving the housing problem is not easy.As of 2012, housing shortage in Urban India was to the tune of 1.88 crores and growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6%, it is expected to touch 3.4 crores dwelling units by 2022 as per projections.But providing housing to all is not merely a slogan and through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Government is committed in this regard.

The President said that at one time there was a slogan ‘Roti Kapda aur Makan, Mang Raha Hai Hindustan’. He said that he would like to add two more requirements to this slogan i.e.‘Shiksha' and 'Swasthya’. Only when food, clothing and housing along with health and education are available to the people of the country can growth of India be possible.

This release issued 1900 hrs.