POLITICAL WILL, MINDSET
OF URBAN MANAGERS AND PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION KEY TO QUALITY LIFE
IN CITIES-ANANTH KUMAR
REGULATORY
MEASURE TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT
IS NEEDED-S.S.DAWRA
Union Minister for Urban Development
& Poverty Alleviation, Sh. Ananth Kumar today said that good
quality life in urban areas is the need of the hour and for good
governance issues like environment, infrastructure, community
participation, resource mobilization and training of manpower
are to be addressed immediately. He was addressing the delegates
at " City Scapes" 2002: Global Convention on Agenda for Urban
Infrastructure reforms, being organized jointly by Government
of India and FICCI in the capital.
Sh. Kumar identified four
solutions in the form of political will and vision; mind-set and
strategy of managers; awareness and partnership of people; population
control to resolve issues pertaining to good quality life in urban
areas. He said that we need to have a sustainable and viable reform
process to address the problems in 4,000 urban conglomerates for
which innovative models that are scalable and integrated with
rural and urban areas are to be devised. He emphasized the need
to develop universal models of excellence which can be duplicated
at different places and situations to improve the living conditions
of urban inhabitants.
Speaking on the occasion Minister
of State, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Sh. O. Rajagopal
said that proper participation of people at large is required
to try innovative methods in urban governance. He advised stakeholders
in urban governments to change their mindsets to address the urgent
needs of urban population.
Secretary, Urban Development,
Sh. S.S. Dawra emphasized the need for proper urban planning so
that the problems of slums and resulting ill health and crime
in urban areas can be tackled. He said that governants’ effort
has been to improve facilities in rural areas so that the incentive
to move towards urban areas is minimized though it is inescapable
to concentrate on the growing demands in urban areas that are
plagued by lesser investments. Sh. Dawra said that some regulatory
measure is urgently required to facilitate private sector participation
in urban reforms, which has shown insufficient interest so far.
Among others to attend
the convention were the members of Commonwealth Local Government
Forum headed by Mr. Len Duvall from U.K, President of FICCI, Sh.
Rajindra S. Lodha, senior officials of the Ministry of Urban Development
and Poverty Alleviation.
