All India Mayors' Conference in Rajkot from tomorrow

Rajkot, Mar 29 (UNI) A two-day ''All India Mayors' Conference'' will be held here from tomorrow to promote good urban governance through democratic decentralisation.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Rajkot Mayor Dhansukh Bhanderi said the event is being organised under the aegis of National Resource Centre on Urban and Poverty (NRCUP), Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES), All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG) and Rajkot Municipal Corporation.

The main aim of the conference is to provide a platform for sharing experience, expertise and strengthen efforts towards urban poverty alleviation by undertaking knowledge management, discussing reforms, policies and programmes under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) especially with regard to Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP), Mr Bhanderi said.

Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies Director Dr Sneha Palnitkar said mayors can play a pivotal role in the creation of egalitarian communities, mobilisation of local community resources, establishing partnerships with private sector, non-governmental organisations, community and national and international organisations.

Dr Palnitkar further said JNNURM provides opportunities to access central assistance for slum upgradation and providing housing to the poor in cities.

The urban poverty reduction strategies can succeed only when the city leadership along with responsive administration constantly engages with stakeholders and receives the grass root level support from poor communities at large, she added.

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