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Poverty Alleviation

Corporator demands inquiry into housing scheme for urban poor

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The Times of India   27.07.2012

Corporator demands inquiry into housing scheme for urban poor

 PUNE: Congress corporator Sanjay Balgude on Thursday demanded an inquiry in housing projects being built under the basic services to urban poor (BSUP) scheme."A number of land related issues have cropped up in housing projects that are being built under this scheme. Some issues are related to ownership of the land, while some issuesare related to the possession of the land," said Balgude, while addressing a news conference here.Balgude said the PMC has secured funds from the Union government for this scheme. "Therefore, it is the duty of the civic administration to be more vigilant while implementing the scheme. But, it seems a lot of mistakes have taken place right from drafting the detailed project report to the actual implementation of this scheme. So, the civic administration should order an inquiry by a retired high court judge," he said.Right now, nearly 1,100 houses are available under the BSUP scheme. Two major housing projects are taking place in Pune at Hadapasar and Warje. The urban poor residents from the western parts of the city will be shifted to BSUP buildings in Warje, while the residents in the eastern zone will be shifted to Hadapsar.

 

Last Updated on Friday, 03 August 2012 06:34
 

State government rolls out another sop for urban poor societies

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The Times of India     27.07.2012

State government rolls out another sop for urban poor societies

 VADODARA: With assembly elections round the corner, it is the season to roll out goodies for the people. In a follow up to the scheme to provide infrastructure like roads, streetlights and water to residential areas of the urban poor with 10 per cent contribution from the residents, the state government has directed that even this contribution can be made from the local area development (LAD) grant of MLAs.

The state government had issued a circular in April this year that works in such backward localities that have come up on land freed under Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) Act or housing board projects can be carried out with 70 per cent contribution from the state government, 20 per cent from Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) and 10 per cent from the residents of the area.

However, parliamentary secretary and Raopura BJP MLA Yogesh Patel had made representations to the state government demanding that instead of taking 10 per cent from the residents of such localities, the contribution should be allowed from MLA's development grants. Patel had proposed to take up such work in the city before this, but was unable to do so as there was no provision for such contributions.

Patel said at times the residents were not able to make the contribution and in such cases, the purpose of the scheme would be defeated. "Now, they can get the facility without paying any contribution," Patel said.

With the scheme, the BJP will not only make inroads into the lower middle class and poor localities, but also counter a problem that the Congress had posed locally in Vadodara. The Congress was conducting agitations demanding that registration of properties that have come up on ULC Act should be allowed. While this is a difficult task under the present rules, the facilities should pacify the residents for now.

 

 


 

Last Updated on Friday, 27 July 2012 08:58
 

Poverty marks to identify BPL families, says Ranchi Municipal Corporation

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The Times of India    25.07.2012

Poverty marks to identify BPL families, says Ranchi Municipal Corporation

 

RANCHI: The standing committee of the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has decided that those families who do not own a vehicle, live in mud houses and do not have any earning members will be given particular marks for every poverty factor.

Mayor Rama Khakho said, "The families will be allotted marks for every poverty factor and those families with 70 marks and above will be considered BPL families. This way it will be easy for the RMC to recognize the BPL families and make sure they are benefited by various government plans."

Another major decision that was taken in the meeting was that the electric crematorium at Harmu, which was lying neglected for many years, would be redone. Khalkko said, "A committee has been made which will survey the electric crematorium at Jamshedpur and will submit plans of renovation and restart on that basis."

It was decided in the meeting that the RMC would write to MP Parimal Nathwani for the management of the RMC hospital which was renovated by him in 2011. The mayor said, "The tender was released but there were not many bidders. Also we think that Nathwani will be the best person for operation of the hospital as he works for uplifting the poor."

The RMC will also be writing a letter to the forest department to plant trees and flowers on the empty space near various parks, footpaths and on the roadside of the city.

Employment of the previous RMC daily wages employees who lost their jobs after A2Z Waste Management Company took charge of maintaining cleanliness of the city was also considered in the meeting.

Deputy mayor Ajay Nath Shahdeo, who raised the issue, said, "More than 500 daily wage earners have been unemployed after A2Z Company took over. These workers should be employed in A2 Z Company."

RMC CEO Deepankar Panda assured Shahdeo that he would speak to the company about the matter.

 

 


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