The total shortage of housing in the country is 24.71 million, the government has said quoting reports of a study.

"According to the estimates made by the technical group constituted by the ministry for assessment of urban housing shortage at the end of the Tenth Five Year Plan, the total housing shortage in the country is 24.71 million," union minister for housing and urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question.

Underling that it is 'primarily' the responsibility of state governments to provide for adequate shelter, Selja said, "Union government, however, has formulated the first urban area-focused National Urban Housing and habitat Policy 2007 to set in motion a process to provide affordable housing for all, particularly economically weaker sections and low income groups."

The policy intends to promote sustainable development of habitat in the country with a view to ensure equitable supply of land, shelter and services at affordable prices to all sections of society, she said.

On the action taken by the government to construct more houses for the poor, she informed the House that a new scheme has been launched for providing interest subsidy to make housing affordable and within the repaying capacity of the economically weaker section and low income group.

"The scheme encourages the poor sections to avail of loan facilities through commercial banks or housing finance companies for the purpose of construction or acquisition of houses and avail five per cent subsidy in interest payment," she added.

Apart from this, minister said Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission has been catering to the needs of housing and basic services to urban people in 63 specified cities under the Sub Mission Basic Services to the Urban Poor programme and in other cities under the Integrated Housing and Slum Development programme.