The
government has chalked out several programmes for the betterment
of urban poor, but still a lot needs to be done to uplift
their living standards. The government has centered its attention
on removing poverty of villagers, marginal and small farmers.
Moreover, it has not ignored the urban poor. Central housing
and urban development minister for state, Kumari Shailja said
in Bhopal that all the state governments should ensure 25
per cent reservation to the urban poor in various civic bodies
and other institutions. The minister was addressing audience
during allotment programme of pucca houses to the beneficiaries
under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNRUM).
She lauded the works being done under the scheme. Also, there
should be proper rehabilitation of the slum-dwellers, she
emphasised. However, poverty cannot be removed only with JNNRUM,
the minister added saying, the Union government has written
a letter to the state governments in this connection to constitute
poverty fund so that proper development of slum-dwellers takes
place. The scheme is only for four years and with its implementation
all the slums could not be removed. The financial uplift of
the poor people is necessary for the same. Shailja said that
these houses would be allotted in the name of women, so that
the male members could not sell it. If the financial condition
of the poor improves then their lifestyle would change automatically.
There is need to provide more and more job opportunities to
the poor so as to make the foundation for poverty fund strong.
In all these efforts the role of the state government, central
government and civic bodies, is important. If these three
unitedly make arrangements then it would be better. It should
be kept in mind that the living standard of the poor improves
without imposing unnecessary burden on them. They should also
realize that they have a role to play in the facilities they
are to receive.
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