The New Indian Express 01.09.2009
ABIDe mulls over policy for urban poor
BANGALORE: To address the problems of the urban poor and recognise their contribution to the urban economy, ABIDe is mulling over a comprehensive policy for the development of urban poor. Participating in a consultative meeting in this regard, Ananth Kumar, MP and vice-president of ABIDe, said that a new legislation, Bangalore Regional Governance Act 2009, would be in place soon after the elections to BBMP.
The MP said that ABIDe would deal with five important issues and one of them was development of the urban poor. “A comprehensive policy that is to be formulated will have public say.
We will call for public objections and suggestions in this regard.” For the implementation of this policy, there was a need for a legislative intervention and an end to redtapism, he said. “The policy will be multi-dimensional, integrated and holistic, in its approach towards the development of the urban poor,” he said. The meeting felt the need for a comprehensive survey of the urban poor and slum communities that will enable realistic planning and implementation.