The Hindu : New Delhi News : Separate rural habitat policy needed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 10, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Separate rural habitat policy needed

Staff Reporter

"Panchayati raj'' institutions to play major role in implementation also

NEW DELHI: A high-level panel of government officials, representatives from private sector and social workers has called for a separate policy on rural habitat with "panchayati raj'' institutions playing a major role in not only framing policies but also in its implementation.

Taking part in a national consultation organised by the South Asia Regional Knowledge Platform with support from Building and Social Housing Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and Development Alternatives, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj Secretary, Wajahat Habibullah, stressed the strong position of "panchayati raj'' institutions in planning and development of rural habitat. Similarly, HUDCO's Chief Managing Director, P S Rana, stressed the need for job creation in rural areas for sustainable housing processes, while Avi Malhotra shared Swiss Development Cooperation perspective on rural habitat that hinges on the potential of "panchayati raj'' institutions for reducing discrimination and drudgery at the grassroots.

The consultation also highlighted the needs for a separate policy targeted at rural area though not totally divorced from links with urban areas, besides discussing fundamental principles for developing effective policies specially targeted at habitat in rural areas. The ideas shared during the discussions were aimed at providing guidelines for making habitat policies responsive and favourable and will now be shared with the Task Force on National Habitat Policy, to be developed as a publication on guidelines for rural habitat policy in India.

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