Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 2
In 2008, it was provisional certificates for the residents of unauthorized colonies, distributed by the Congress, that helped the party win a third consecutive term in the national Capital. In a similar act, the party this year has decided to issue ownership certificates to the residents of resettlement colonies in the city.

While it was Congress chief Sonia Gandhi who had distributed the provisional certificates during a function at Chhatrasal Stadium before 2008 polls, this time, the ownership certificates will be given out by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at a grand function to be held in Yamuna Sports complex, East Delhi.

The certificates will be distributed on September 10 around two months before the Delhi Assembly elections. The polls are scheduled to take place by November.

There are around 51 resettlement colonies in Delhi which house around 40 lakh people. These colonies were made to settle the inhabitants of JJ clusters and slums from various parts of the city between 1960 and 1975. They were provided with plots ranging from 25 to 80 yards most of which have turned into four-storyed buildings today.

The plots were given on lease by the government and the residents do not have ownership rights till date. They cannot sell or purchase the property.

Keeping in view the success brought by the distribution of provisional certificate to the unauthorized colonies just before the last assembly elections, the Congress has decided to give out permanent certificates to the residents of those unauthorized colonies which were regularized recently.

The party is gearing up to organize a huge rally in Yamuna Sports complex where the residents of both the resettlement and unauthorized colonies will be invited and handed over the certificates.

With an eye on the polls, the Delhi Government had also launched Food Security Scheme in the city last month. The scheme was inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi on August 20. The government has claimed to extend the benefits of the scheme to 70 lakh poor people in the city.