INDIA AND TANZANIA TO SHARE LOW COST HOUSING TECHNOLOGY AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT STRATEGY

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India has offered assistance to Tanzania for training their people in low cost building technology using locally available raw materials and in programmes relating to empowerment of women. The offer was made during a meeting between the Union Minister of State for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan and Mr. E.D. Maokola-Majogo, Minister of State for Poverty Alleviation in the Vice-President’s Office of Tanzania, here today.

The visiting dignitary explained his country’s special poverty reduction strategy with focus on education, road construction, agriculture, good governance, fight against HIV/AIDS and sought India’s cooperation in the field of women empowerment, housing and slum development programmes.

  In his turn, Minister of State for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan described various initiatives taken by the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation to reduce unemployment and improve housing stock as a means to address the problem of poverty reduction. He also explained efforts made by the Government to empower women, like 30% reservation of seats for them in Urban and Panchayat local bodies and formation of self –help groups under DWACRA. Shri Radhakrishnan explained various urban reform initiatives undertaken to remove infirmities in housing sector.

Secretary, Department of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Shri L.M. Mehta and senior officials of the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, HUDCO, BMTPC also attended the meeting.