India, Jan. 3 -- For around 1,400 families living in the slum clusters of northwest Delhi's Jailorwala Bagh, Friday marked a transformative moment. They were handed the keys to new flats under the Swabhiman Apartments in-situ slum rehabilitation project in Ashok Vihar - ending decades of living in makeshift shelters with little hope of proper housing.

"It feels like a dream come true. I have been living in the jhuggi for over 20 years and now I will shift to this flat where I will get a better life," said Vishwanath Jha, a mechanic at a spoon-making factory, who was allotted a flat in Swabhiman Apartments.

Originally from Bihar's Madhubani, Jha was among the recipients handed the keys to the newly constructed flats by Prime Minister Nar...