Selja Kumari served as minister of state (independent charge) of Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in the UPA government. The 46-year-old Selja who began her political career in the Mahila Congress becoming its president in 1990, represents the Ambala constituency of Haryana.

She was Union Minister of State for Education and Culture in the Narasimha Rao-led Congress government. She was Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. On 16th Jun,2009; she has once again been re-elected from the same constituency making this her second consecutive victory from Ambala

Issues

Housing and poverty alleviation continues to remain the biggest challenge for the government.

What she plans to do

With a shortage of housing estimated at nearly 25 million, the government will focus on affordable housing by involving the private sector.      

Private sector is also recognising the growing demand for affordable housing, she said after assuming charge of the ministry for the second term.      

"Notwithstanding the economic slowdown our efforts will be to put major thrust in the housing sector as our goal is that everybody should have access to affordable housing. We are moving towards that goal," she added.       

She said two schemes have been launched in the first quarter of 2009 to encourage states to provide urban land at affordable costs for housing and also to reduce the cost of credit for housing for the poor.       

"Our budget allocation has also been increased from Rs 2,500 crore (Rs 25 billion) to Rs 3,300 crore (Rs 33 billion) in this fiscal for carrying out the various programmes providing better amenities to people in cities," she added.