VIJAYAWADA : Foreseeing a greater role for the poor in development of urban areas, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Selja on Friday said the United Progressive Alliance Government had given top priority to providing basic amenities to the poor in cities and towns.

Addressing a public meeting before laying the foundation stone for Rs. 4-crore works at Ekalavyanagar here, Ms. Selja pointed out the upgradation of facilities in poor localities was being given due importance under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). She said the cities would not belong to the rich alone and their development primarily hinged on contribution from the poorer sections of the society.

11th plan

She said apart from the JNNURM, the Government was trying to make the Swarna Jayanti Sahari Rojgar Yojana (SJSRY) more effective to address the problems of the urban poor. In the 11th plan, more funds would be allocated for women's development under the SJSRY.

Ms. Selja described Vijayawada as having potential for transforming into a world-class city and emerging as a thriving financial hub in the region. She pointed out that while the entire State got Rs. 444 crores grant for constructing 80,000 houses under the JNNURM, Vijayawada received Rs. 130 crores for constructing 15,000 houses.

Ms. Selja said for the first time in the country's history, the UPA Government had taken note of the need for improving the living conditions of women in urban areas. Provision of basic amenities and decent living conditions for the urban poor would remain in prime focus.

Empowerment

"The urban poor are struggling for lack of access to drinking water, proper drainage facility and sanitation.

So the Government came up with the JNNURM to address all these problems," she added. Later addressing women members of Self-Help Group (SHGs), Ms. Selja praised the SHG members for taking active part in a programme that symbolised a swift march to the empowerment of women in the country. She said in their own way, these women members were trying to live up to the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.Ms. Selja pointed out that SHG women members had a good record as far as the recovery of loans was concerned.

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