JAIPUR: A concise action plan for ensuring citizens' participation in formulation and execution of urban development schemes and institutional development of municipal bodies should be evolved without delay in Rajasthan.

This will help initiate much-needed direct dialogue of people with the civic authorities.

Slum colonies

Pratham Rajasthan -- a non-Government organisation working for children in slum colonies -- made these recommendations during 40 Ward Sabhas organised here recently to deliberate on the proposals for the 11th Five Year Plan.

The NGO emphasised that the urban poor should be placed at the centre of the plans for providing basic services.

Pratham Rajasthan's Managing Trustee Kulbhushan Kothari said here that the NGO's members participated in the Ward Sabhas held between September 11 and 13 and made meaningful suggestions for giving priority to development works.

The activists laid emphasis on providing civic amenities to the urban poor at low prices.

Mr. Kothari said while the primary schools should be upgraded, drop-outs and out-of-school children should be associated with the alternative arrangements for education.

The Akshay Kaleva scheme for providing meals to children should be extended to include child labourers as well.

As part of the initiative to ensure people's participation, Pratham Rajasthan has recommended that an independent body be allowed to make an annual appraisal of civic amenities in all wards here in the capital city of Jaipur.

Reference centre

Besides, the establishment of a reference centre would help citizens in knowing about the development initiatives.

Mr. Kothari said Rs.550 crore available for Jaipur for the next five years under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, constituting 12 per cent of the urban development plan, should be spent on improving the living conditions in slums. "This step, accompanied by municipal reforms and allocation of sufficient budget to each ward, will provide relief to the urban poor."

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