SJSRY to be given new form, says Selja

Shimla, May 31 (UNI) Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja today said the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) will be given a new form in the next five year plan following its marginal success in 16 states of the country.

Addressing media persons here, she said in 16 states the scheme had not been a success due to their failure to submit physical progress reports from time to time and various agencies would be consituted to look into functioning of the scheme.

The Minister was here to attend the national conference for reviewing the functioning of the scheme which had been launched to alleviate urban poverty.

The scheme aims at providing gainful employment opportunities to the urban poor by setting up micro enterprises primarily through Self-Help Groups as also to provide skill upgradation training to the urban poor living below poverty line.

Ms Selja emphasised on fixing poverty reduction targets in budgets and annual plans and sought active co-operation and partnership of the citizens and NGOs.

''Since Shimla has been included in the list of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), a mission to renew the selected cities, both authorities and general public at large should be committed to make it a success,'' Ms Selja said.

Detailing the ambitious JNNURM scheme, she said it would be implemented in 63 identified cities of the country under which Rs.

50,000 crore would be spent on development of urban infrastructure, governance and basic services to the urban poor.

The project reports of five cities of Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Surat, Bhopal and Pune have been received so far and an amount of Rs 87 crore released thereof, she added.

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