Focus on urban poor, PM tells CMs

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked state government to keep the urban poor in mind when they draw plans to improve urban infrastructure in cities, reports Aloke Tikku.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked state government to keep the urban poor in mind when they draw plans to improve urban infrastructure in cities.

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In a recent letter to chief ministers, Singh sought their personal attention to promote the concept of inclusive cities that would give every citizen a reasonable and affordable access to basic amenities.

Singh believes that though the states have responded to the challenges offered by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, there was a need to focus on the component of basic services to the urban poor.

A PMO statement said the prime minister had requested Chief Ministers to prepare time-bound action plans for providing all basic services for the urban poor in major cities in their States.

The mission has a component that deals with the poor. This relates to provision of basic entitlements and amenities to urban poor in terms of security of tenure, affordable housing, potable water, and sanitation facilities while envisaging convergence of health, education and social security.

It also seeks internal earmarking in urban local body budgets for provision of basic services to the urban poor.

Singh urged the chief ministers to ensure that all cities develop these plans using innovative resource mobilization models to finance the projects by combining funds provided by the government at the centre and state as well as community and private resources.