SHILLONG: Seventeen towns and cities have been chosen as benificiaries under the Rajiv Awas Yojna. In pursuance of the Government’s vision of creating a slum-free India, a new scheme called ‘Rajiv Awas Yojana’(RAY) was launched on June 2 this year, which is expected to cover about 250 cities across the country by the end of the 12th Plan.

For the Northeastern States, the share of the Centre would be 90%, against 50% in other states, to provide basic civic & social infrastructure and amenities in the urban areas.

Among 157 cities to which funds have already been released to undertake activities under RAY, in the NE Region, the cities are Naharlagun and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, Guwahati in Assam, Imphal in Manipur, Shillong in Meghalaya, Kohima and Dimapur in Nagaland, Gangtok in Sikkim, Agartala in Tripura, Aizawl, Champai, Kolasib, Laungtlai, Lunglei, Mamit, Saiha and Serchhip in Mizoram.

The cities are selected by the States, in consultation with the centre including JNNURM cities with more than 3 lakh population and other smaller cities.