The Pioneer               06.06.2013

Mayor assures slum kids to make city child-friendly

More than 100 children from 15 slums of the city had a dialogue with Jena to make Bhubaneswar more child-friendly. Issues like improper garbage cleaning, non-availability of dustbin, unsafe drinking water, electricity woes, anti- social activities, safe housing, poor transport system, hazardous roads and pathways, lack of public place for children and zero ventilated housing were raised.

 While answering different queries of the children, the Mayor assured them to transform Bhubaneswar a child -friendly city with an improved housing, sanitation, electricity, drinking water facilities and access to basic services.

The Mayor pointed out different facilities available inside the slums like ICDS, drinking water, parks and some other upcoming facilities. But the children disagreed with him by raising issues of lack of access to such facilities.

Jena promised to take necessary steps to consider the children a major beneficiary in the urban development plans and policies by taking their views into consideration. It is worth mentioning here that 10-15 per cent child population in the State live in different slums with no access to basic needs.

The total children without access to basic facilities stand at 7.6 million in the whole country. Starting from water, sanitation, housing, air, soil, transport, public place and electricity to other aspects that constitute physical environment in an urban poverty, children are deprived of all amenities and basic needs.

These areas are now unsafe and unhealthy revealed by many studies and reports. The current budgetary allocation and provisions in urban policies like JnNURM, RAY and several others launched by the Housing and Urban Department have ignored children as one of the beneficiaries. Humara Bachpan campaign is advocating for a change in such policies, said National Campaign coordinator Mihir Mohanty.

The Times of India             05.06.2013

Guwahati Municipal Corporation's ward 27 to vote in hope of better amenities

GUWAHATI: Ward number 27 on the outskirts of the city has for long been plagued by lack of basic civic amenities and modernization, besides poor maintenance of service lanes along the NH-37 which passes the area. With the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) election coming up, residents of the ward are hoping for a change in their living conditions.

With the municipal polls scheduled on June 19, Congress, BJP, AGP and independent candidates are making all out efforts to win the hearts of the 31,000 voters in the ward, which comprises Bhetapara, Sarusajai, Barsajai, Saukuchi, Odalbakra and neighbouring areas on the city's outskirts.

Candidates in the fray are campaigning on the development plank in the ward, promising to make it at par with the most developed pockets of the city. "Residents of ward number 27 are yet to get even minimum civic facilities from the municipality. The NH-37 crosses through this ward, but, due to lack of a proper drainage system, the service lanes of the four-lane highway remain flooded with rainwater and water released by households and commercial establishments. If elected, I will try to solve this problem. Moreover, dilapidated condition of the bylanes in the area is also a serious matter of concern," said Sankar Baglari, an Independent candidate.

The opposition parties were seen highlighting the failure of the state government in providing facilities in the localities under this ward - Lalung Gaon, Khetenijal, Ahom Gaon and Katakipara.

"Every time after a heavy shower, muddy water comes down from the hills, accumulating on the roads. We want a proper drainage system and streetlights in this ward," said Ranjit Gogoi of Ahom Gaon.

Lack of pure drinking water is another problem which has remained unsolved here. With the city expanding towards this ward and its population is growing constantly over the last 10 years, water has become scarce here. "Potable water supplied by the GMC does not reach many pockets of our ward. I will press the higher authorities to start regular water supply in the ward if I am elected," said Jona Rabha, BJP's candidate in the ward.