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Minister for State for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja today inaugurated the Week Long Celebration of World Habitat Day. In her address Kumari Selja emphasized the need to have a holistic approach in the integrated development of urban and rural areas and called for a change in the mindset in dealing with this issue. “Let us focus our attention to strive for a balanced development between the urban and rural areas for integrated, sustainable, economic and social development of the country”, she said.
Kumari Selja emphasized the need to improve transport, communication, infrastructure and basic services to integrate rural economy with the rest. “Adequate finance, decentralization, regulated market, capacity building of local bodies, integration of local and national planning are the other areas of importance” she added.
The Minister announced institution of awards which will be given to Institutions/NGOs/Urban Local Bodies/Agencies working in the field of sustainable Housing & Habitat, Urban Infrastructure, Innovation in technology for Low Cost Housing, Slum Development and micro finance.
In his address, Lt. Governor of Delhi, Shri B.L. Joshi emphasized the need to address the issue of housing for poor and low income households with better water supply, electricity, transport, green cover to make Delhi more habitable. He called upon policy makers, public and private sector to generate ideas on integrated approaches which reinforce the beneficial inter-relationships between rural and urban areas.
In her address Secretary, Ministry of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Smt. Chitra Chopra said that for the first time the government is organizing a week long celebration of World Habitat Day to sensitize the public about the importance of habitat and sought the cooperation of all stake holders in this endeavor
UN Director (Information), Ms. Shalini Diwan read out the UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan’s message on this occasion.
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