52. There are three main axes to housing policy in Nicaragua: (a) Agrarian reform; (b) Planning and production of dwellings (rural and urban); and (c) Emergency programmes for marginal districts. 53. The Ministry of Housing pursues the following fundamental aims: (a) Housing: to ensure that proper housing in the full sense of the word, including land, infrastructure and social amenities, in addition to housing for the family is available, for low-income sectors and in particular those involved in production; (b) Urban development; to rationalize, regulate and monitor the growth of the towns with a view to achieving balanced regional development based on an efficient and equitable distribution of resources throughout Nicaragua. Urban reform 54. The Government has enacted a series of laws, the most important being the following, which are designed to alter the structure of urban land ownership, to eradicate speculation and gradually transform urban land and dwellings into a social service free from any mercantile notions: Illegal Housing Developments Act. 55. On 22 September 1979 the Government Junta for National Reconstruction promulgated Decree No. 97, whereby it took steps to take over and manage the land and rent from the so-called illegal housing developments in urban and suburban areas throughout the country. 56. The Act provided support for measures taken against 420 illegal housing developments on the grounds of their failure to comply with the minimum town planning requirements, and ensured security of tenure for 84,000 families, representing 63 per cent of the country's urban population. 57. The National Office for Housing Developments under Government Control, which was established by the Act, began to receive the mortgage payments paid by the occupiers to the property developer, and used the income to construct the infrastructure lacking, relocate families living on unsuitable locations, etc.; more than 31,000 families benefited from these measures.
**Analysis**
The text discusses the housing policy in Nicaragua, focusing on the government's efforts to reform the urban land ownership, regulate urban development, and provide housing for low-income sectors. The measures taken by the government aim to ensure proper housing, infrastructure, and social amenities for families, which suggests a strong connection to the well-being of the population. This implies that the category should be related to human development and social issues.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Education