Urban progress linked with poverty removal: Selja tells World Forum

New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) Underlining that urban development has to be equitable and sustainable, Minister of State for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja today told the World Urban Forum III at Vancouver that India was focussing on poverty alleviation and slum improvement programmes as the main part of its urban sector reform.

''Sustainable cities are a pre-requisite to sustainable human settlements, It is, therefore, essential to recognize and understand the role of cities for development of sustainable human settlements,'' said the Minister.

Ms Selja said the country was encouraging its cities to improve sanitation and housing for the poor under various schemes such as integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme and Swarna Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana.

She said like India, the developing countries were undergoing a pace of urbanization and economic development and the urban Sector has to play a central role for local economic development, not only within cities but also among the rural areas.

In this process, the Minister said, the private sector has gradually emerged as a partner to provide municipal services like solid waste management, water supply, community services and road transport.

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