Opening Session Speeches
Ms. Kumari Selja, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Government of India
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
It is my proud privilege to address this august gathering of urban sector stakeholders on the occasion of World Urban Forum III Let me at the outset convey to you all the warm greetings of the people of India. People of India are eagerly looking forward to the outcome of this forum.
The organization of World Urban Forum III at Vancouver is very timely and appropriate. It looks back to the Vancouver Habitat Conference on Human Settlements in 1976 which led to the creation of UN-Habitat. During the last 30 years, the UN-Habitat has done commendable job in bringing out the habitat agenda for specific actions on access to shelter and related services, environmental protection, poverty alleviation and international cooperation. The World Urban Forum III is a step forward to provide an opportunity to all the stakeholders to share the experience and expertise on these initiatives towards sustainable development of human settlements.
The focus areas of WUFIII i.e. Urban Growth and Environment; Partnerships and Finance and Social Inclusion and Cohesion are very much in line with the overall focus of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and global initiatives on sustainable cities. Last 30 years have witnessed a global consensus in highlighting the fact that national issues on poverty, environment, productivity, quality of life and equity have local solutions at the level of human settlement management.
India has taken several initiatives in order to address the issues of urban growth and environment with the help of innovative urban planning and management through development of local actions. Local government reforms initiated by Late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi during 1985-90 have promoted a systematic planning and empowerment of local governments. Functions of local governments have been identified and strengthened with the inclusion of environmental protection, slum improvement, development of socio-economic plan and poverty alleviation. We have District Planning Committees and Metropolitan Planning Committees with the objective to consolidate plans prepared by local governments.
India's initiatives in financial management of State and City Governments are emerging in a gradual and systematic manner. We have evolved a scientific and performance based system of allocation of funds to city governments through the Finance Commissions set up every five years. These Commissions also suggest suitable measures to improve overall financial management of city governments.
During the last two decades, private sector has gradually emerged as a partner to provide municipal services with special reference to solid waste management, water supply, community services and road transport. We are promoting use of various concessions and incentives to attract the private sector in the area of housing and urban infrastructure. United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government in India has launched a pioneering programme known as 'Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission' (JNNURM)' in December, 2005 which aims to focus on urban infrastructure and poverty alleviation in a participatory manner. This programme with the current annual budget of US$ 1.4 Billion is meant to cover 63 prime cities in the first phase. The programme encourages private sector participation to accelerate investment in housing and related infrastructure in the cities.
Social inclusion and Cohesion is one of our prime agenda on urban sector reforms. Government of India is encouraging cities to take up poverty alleviation and slum improvement in a systematic and inclusive manner. Over 20 per cent of India's urban population i.e. nearly 61.8 million people are living in slums. Our pioneering schemes of Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) & Swarna Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) - Urban Employment Scheme are meant to uplift the socio-economic status of the urban poor and slum dwellers. SJSRY promotes public engagement for inclusive city development and creates community structures at grassroot level with the involvement of women through Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Thrift and Credit Societies.
India is on the path of rapid economic development. In last couple of years, India has entered into a phase of rapid economic growth of 7 to 8 per cent per annum. India has a competitive edge in many areas and it is considered as one of the favoured destinations for investments. Indian economy, if assessed on purchasing power parity, is one of the five largest economies in the World.
Like India, the developing countries in general are undergoing a pace of urbanization and economic development. This pace of growth poses a common challenge to ensure that the urbanization process is accompanied by equity, productivity and environmentally safe cities. In this context, urban sector has to play a central role for local economic development, not only within cities but also among the rural areas. Cities have to not only ensure local economic development within but also serve as service centres for their rural hinterland. It is, therefore, essential to recognize and understand the role of cities for development of sustainable human settlements. In other words, sustainable cities are a pre-requisite to sustainable human settlements.
In view of this, the World Urban Forum III, I am sure, will identify and share local solutions for national issues in the light of potential role of cities. National boundaries are no longer a barrier for sharing the experience and expertise and this event brings us together to share our experience, to learn from each other to identify innovations for adaptation in our own context.
I look forward to join individual events to share experience to further mutual cooperation on urban sector and related issues. India will come forward to the best of our ability in joining the international community to promote Habitat agenda and achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
With this, I wish the World Urban Forum III all success.
Thank you.
Jai Hind !