National core group on urban poverty constituted

New Delhi, Dec 1 (UNI) Urban poverty is likely to be one of the toughest problems for India in 21st century, said Minister of State for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja, while addressing the first meeting of the National Core Group on Urban Poverty here today.

She said, "The proportion of people living below poverty line in urban areas is higher than in the rural areas in urbanising states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat." Stating that the approach paper to the 11th Five Year Plan focuses on inclusive growth as the key theme, Kumari Selja said that her Ministry intended to work on the concept of inclusive cities.

She said, "Urbanisation must be encouraged to tackle rural poverty and to absorb more labour." She said that providing micro finance and entrepreneurial skills could address livelihood and poverty issues in cities.

The National Core Group on Urban Poverty has been constituted to assist the Ministry in the implementation of Basic Services to Urban Poor of JNNURM and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme. The Core Group will also formulate strategies to tackle Urban Poverty and Slum development.

The Group may meet periodically to deliberate on issues of urban poverty alleviation in general and JNNURM in particular, to assist the Ministry in design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of urban poverty alleviation programmes. The members may lead national and regional consultations relating to key areas that impact on urban poverty. The consultations will be facilitated by National Resource Centers on Urban Poverty located in Pune and Mumbai.

Kumari Selja is the Chairman and Secretary in the Ministry is the Vice Chairman. The members are Prof. Amitabh Kundo of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Prof O P Mathur of National Institute of Public Finance and Planning, Ramesh Ramanathan of Janaagrah Center for Citizenship and Democracy, Dr Dinesh Awasthi of Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Renana Jhabawala of Gujarat Mahila Housing Sewa Trust, Vijay Mahajan of BASIX, Rohini Nilekeni of Arghyam Foundation, Dr R Sridhar of National Housing Bank, Vaasi Malai of Dhan Foundation and Joint Secretary in the Ministry is Member Secretary, said an official release issued here today.

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