Sonia expresses concern over growing urban population

Bhopal, July 3 : Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi today expressed serious concern over growing urban population in the country due to migration from rural areas because of unemployment among other reasons.

''Since independence, there has been a three-fold increase in the country's population but the urban population has multiplied by five times,'' said Ms Gandhi, after launching the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) here.

Ms Gandhi said reality should be accepted and a solution must be found out accordingly.

''People are moving from rural areas to urban areas in search of employment. In such circumstances, growth of urban population could not be checked,'' she said.

''The solution lies in providing employment in rural areas and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is an important initiative in this direction,'' Ms Gandhi said.

Pointing out that the scheme included 200 districts in the country, including Madhya Pradesh, the Congress Chief said it was not an easy task to provide 100 days of guaranteed employment in rural areas.

She said many other central schemes like the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, and mid-day meal scheme were aimed at checking migration from rural areas.

Stating that the state capital had been endowed with rich culture and natural beauty, Ms Gandhi hoped that the JNNURM scheme would increase its beauty.

However, she said, no good scheme could be successful without participation from all sections of society.

She hoped that the state government, social organisations and people would contribute in making the scheme a success.

The Congress Chief said besides Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain were included in the scheme.

The Narmada Jal Yojna -- which had been included in the scheme -- would ensure availability of clean drinking water in the state capital.

Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state Commerce and Industries Minister Babulal Gaur, Urban Administration and Development Minister Jayant Malaiya and Mayor Sunil Sood were present on the occasion.

UNI