'Set deadlines for providing basic services to poor'

New Delhi, Aug 27: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has written to Chief Ministers asking them to set deadlines for provision of all basic services for the poor in major cities. ''The Prime Minister has requested Chief Ministers to prepare time-bound action plans for providing all basic services for the urban poor in major cities in their states,'' a PMO spokesman said in a statement today.

Dr Singh has sought their ''personal attention'' to promote the concept of inclusive cities where every citizen would have reasonable and affordable access to basic amenities.

Appreciating the states for responding to the challenges offered by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, he said there was need to focus on the component of basic services to the urban poor to implement the charter of the JNNURM.

This component relates to provision of basic entitlements and amenities to urban poor in terms of security of tenure, affordable housing, potable water, and sanitation facilities.

It also envisages convergence of health, education and social security. The Mission also seeks internal earmarking in Urban Local Body budgets for provision of basic services to the urban poor.

The Prime Minister has also urged the Chief Ministers to direct each city to develop these plans using innovative resource mobilisation models to finance the projects by combining funds provided by the central and state governments with community and private resources.

UNI