The Government has launched a programme to provide houses to 1,000 families dwelling in shanties and other temporary shelters. Under the programme launched by the Urban and Sacred Area Development Ministry, 70 families in the Badaowita area in Mount. Lavinia were provided housing facilities yesterday. The Government has contributed Rs. 175,000 for the construction of each house, while 40 more houses are to be built shortly. The housing programme is implemented in 10 districts where a large number of people are in need of housing facilities. Addressing the ceremony to mark the handing over of the houses to the beneficiaries of the project, Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardene said the programme was launched under the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to upgrade the living conditions of people living in structures made of polythene and other material. "Through a Gazette notification, the Government has imposed a tax on constructors and owners of condominiums and other luxury houses. The funds collected through this tax are used to provide housing to the underprivileged communities who live in shanties and other temporary places," he said. Pointing out that, wealthy people are capable of fulfilling most of their needs, the Minister said it was the Government's responsibility to assist the poor who have no such economic stability, to build up their lives. Western Province Governor Alawi Mowlana, Ministry Secretary P. Ramanujan and Mayor Saman Lal Gunawardene also participated.