President Presents Awards to States and Cities for Outstanding Performance in Flagship Schemes of Housing Ministry

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressing at the presentation of the Awards to the States/UTs for effective Implementation of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) in New Delhi 
Courtesy: Photo Division

The President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented awards for the year 2012-13 to various States and Cities for outstanding performance in different categories under the flagship schemes of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation here today. 

Vishakhapatnam, Ahmedabad and Durg received the awards for best cities under Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) and Interest Subsidy Scheme for Housing the Urban Poor (IHSDP) amongst Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Large States and Union Territories, Sonamura in Tripura and Jiribam in Manipur received awards for being the Best Cities in implementation of IHSDP for ULBs in Small & Special Category States and Union Territories. Thiruvanantapuram and Thane jointly shared awards for Best Community Mobilization efforts under BSUP and IHSDP. Thiruvanthapuram City was also adjudged the Best City for use of Cost Effective Building Technology in construction of Houses under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM). Chandigarh got the award for Best City for Planned Habitat for Urban Poor. Ajmer for the Best City for Outstanding efforts for Preparation of Slum-Free City Plan of Action& Pilot Projects under Rajiv Awas Yojana. Vishakhapatnam for the Best city in Effective Enforcement of 3 pro-poor reforms. Amongst the States, Mizoram got the award for Best Performing State under JnNURM in North East and Special Category States and Union Territories (UTs) and Karnataka got the award for the Best Performing State under JnNURM in amongst Large States and Union Territories, Tamil Nadu received the award for the Best State in Effective Enforcement of Three Pro-Poor Reforms under JnNURM. Further, under Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY), in Large States and Union Territories, Andhra-Pradesh received the Award for the Best State for promoting Community Organisations, Bihar got the award for the Best State for Skill Training of Urban Poor. Odisha got the award for the Best State for providing Self-Employment to Urban Poor and amongst the Small States and Union Territories and Mizoram got the Award for Best State for overall performance. Under JnNURM, the awards for the cities comprised a trophy, a letter of appreciation and cash incentive of Rs. 3.00 lakhs and the States a trophy, a letter of appreciation and cash incentive of Rs. 5.00 lakhs. 

In his key note address, Shri Mukherjee applauded the efforts of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation for instituting these awards, which motivate the States, Union Territories and Cities, for working towards making cities more inclusive, he said. The President, stated that slums and homelessness are the most visible outcomes of the systemic inadequacies in our cities, but lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation at bridging the gaps in housing and access to housing for the urban poor, in partnership with States and Cities, through the various innovative schemes, such as JnNURM, Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) and National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), synergizing all the dimensions of residential, occupational and social vulnerability. He congratulated the awardees and stated that these awards must inspire all other States and Cities to re-invigorate their efforts in pro-poor development and in creating sustainable and inclusive cities. 

On the occasion, Dr. Girija Vyas Union Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, released 2 books; the first book on “Housing in India-2013 is a publication of the National Buildings Organization, an integral organisation of Ministry of HUPA containing valuable information on housing. The second book “The State of the Urban Poor Report”, which brings together a set of 19 papers on inclusive planning prepared for the International Conference on Inclusive Urban Planning, organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in association with the GOI-DFID Project. The first copy of both these books were presented to the President. 

In her address, Dr. Girija Vyas, stated that under the BSUP and IHSDP sub missions of JnNURM, more than 1.5 million dwelling units have been sanctioned to the urban poor throughout the country with expected approximate initial cost of Rs 42000 crore to social housing and basic services. The Minister stated that the Planning Commission has allocated Rs 32230 crore for implementation of RAY during the 12th Five Year Plan and One million beneficiaries are proposed to be covered under RRY during the 12th Plan period involving a total outlay of Rs 3580 crore, she said. National Urban Livelihoods Mission, she said is an improvement of the erstwhile Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana with an allocation of Rs 6404.90 crore for the remaining period of the 12 th Five Year Plan. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013 and The Street Vendors Bill and the development of the Pilot Housing Start Up Index and Socio Economic Caste Census were the other major achievements of the Ministry, Dr Vyas said. 

Earlier, Shri Arun Misra, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, formally welcomed the President, Shri Shivraj Patil, the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, Shri Arun Maira, Member Planning Commission and all the State and City representatives gathered for the award function.

Courtesy: Press Information Bureau (pib.nic.in)