Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today launched three mega urban schemes viz., Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Housing for All in
urban area setting in motion the process of urban transformation to
enable better living and drive economic growth. Stressing on the need
for people centric urban planning and development, he said that for the
first time in the county such an effort has been launched.
Defining Smart
City as one which is one or two steps ahead of the aspirations of the
people, Prime Minster said smart city aspirants are being selected
through a process of competition and with effective citizen
participation ending the ‘top down’ approach and leading to ‘people
centric’ urban development. He further said that the new schemes were
formulated after extensive consultations with all the stakeholders, the
biggest of its kind in the country so far. Shri Modi noted that the
management of urbanization in the country offered the biggest challenge
and opportunity for the people and elected municipal leadership to
contribute to transforming urban India.
Stating that
public representatives are remembered for the good work they did during
their tenures, the Prime Minister urged Mayors and Municipal
Chairpersons attending the launch to contribute for the good of the
people. He reminded them that the 500 of them assembled have the
responsibility of ensuring better quality of life for 40% of the
country’s population that either live in urban areas or dependent on
them for livelihood. He urged them to help migrants to urban areas meet
their aspirations.
Stating that
urbanization should be viewed as an opportunity, Prime Minster noted
that had this been recognized about 30 years ago, situation would have
been far better today. He said that with clear vision and effective
planning, all possible hurdles could be overcome and even resource
mobilization would not be an issue.
PM Modi Launch Urban Housing Missions,Smart Cities, AMRUT |
The Prime
Minister observed that a house would be a major turning point in the
lives of the poor as it would motivate them towards higher goals like
earning and saving more for further bettering their living standards. He
said that the Government is committed to enable 2 cr urban poor own
their houses by the year 2022, the 75 year of Independence of the
Country.
Speaking on the
occasion, Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty
Alleviation Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu said that the Government was keen to
promote inclusive development and the new schemes are pro-poor in their
orientation. Elaborating on this Shri Naidu said that Smart Cities,
AMRUT and Housing Mission would help the urban poor through increased
access to water supply, sewer connections, public transportation,
housing, improved urban governance ensuring transparency and
accountability and better delivery of services, enhanced employment
opportunities etc.
Shri Naidu said
that several initiatives launched at the behest of the Prime Minister
like Skill India, Make in India, Digital India, Clean India, PM’s Jan
Dhan Yojana, PAHAL, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, National Institute for
Transformation of India (NITI Ayog) etc were all aimed at transforming
the country to enable it realise its full potential.
Shri Venkaiah
Naidu noted that the new urban schemes have been so designed and
formulated so as to completely do away with any subjectivity or
discretion in selection of cities and in allocation of funds and States
are being given full liberty and flexibility in formulation, appraisal
and approval of projects. He said that urban reforms, smart leadership
and smart people are key to the success of new missions.
In his welcome
address, Minister of State for Urban Development and HUPA Shri Babul
Supriyo said that the triad of Centre, States and Urban Local Bodies are
like the upper, middle and lower berths of a railway compartment,
together moving on the same track of development of the country.
Chief Ministers
of Maharashtra and Haryana, Deputy Chief Minister of J&K, Ministers
from 20 other States, Mayors, Municipal Chairpersons and Commissioners
from 500 cities and towns, senior officials from Central and State
governments, diplomats from 15 countries, representatives of stakeholder
organisations and multilateral bodies have attended the launch.
PM Modi Launch Urban Housing Missions,Smart Cities, AMRUT
Reviewed by Newstechcafe
on
June 25, 2015
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