Tong-Len is working with The Dharamshala Municipal Corporation (DMC) to provide housing in a new housing development near the old Charan Khad slum as part of the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) under the Government of India Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation. To date, Tong-Len has helped to move 30 families into these new secure 2 room flats. The Tong-Len team helped the families with the physical removal and provided orientation sessions to help them to adapt to a new way of living.
The families are required make a deposit of 150,000 INR to DMC before achieving ownership. An initial payment of 25,000 INR has to be made by the families themselves and this is being matched by another 25,000 INR from Tong-Len. The rest of the amount can be deducted from their salaries as DMC employees over a 20-year period. These flats represent a significant improvement in living conditions for slum families. Tong-Len will continue to support these families, offering places to the children in Tong-Len school and providing health and other services. While they may have a roof rather than a tarpaulin over their heads, they are still living below the poverty line and need support to survive.
We are very grateful to the Dharamshala Municipal Corporation and the Government of India for the IHSDP Scheme. The photos below and some of the excited residents of their new accommodation.
