The government today said that it was planning to launch a new housing scheme for slum dwellers and urban poor.

"The government proposes to launch 'Rajiv Awas Yojana' in the country for slum dwellers and urban poor. The scheme would extend support to states willing to assign property rights to people living in slum areas," Housing and Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja informed the Lok Sabha.

"The government's effort would be to create slum free India through the scheme in next five years," she said in a written reply.

In 2009, the government has launched interest subsidy scheme for housing the urban poor. The scheme is aimed at providing subsidy up to 5 per cent on a loan of Rs 1 lakh availed by the poor.

Meanwhile, replying to another question, Selja said the government would revise building by-laws to make rain water harvesting mandatory in all buildings.