Sunday, January 22 2006 12:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Allocations in the Union Budget for schemes meant for providing shelter, livelihood and basic amenities to slum dwellers and urban poor in the country are 'grossly inadequate,'sources in the Union Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation Ministry have said.

Since allocations were 'grossly inadequate,' schemes meant to uplift the urban poor did not make any impact on their lives, they said.

At the recent conference of editors on Social Security issues here, problems of slum dwellers were discussed at length and there was a consensus about addressing issues in a targeted manner.

In keeping with the Millennium Development Goal which calls for eradicating absolute poverty and hunger in the world and reducing proportion of people who suffer from hunger, the Government in its 10th Plan Document has listed the monitor able targets to reduce poverty ratio by five percentage points by 2007 and by 15 percentage points by 2012.

The Center has also fixed targets for setting up four lakh micro enterprises and upgrading skills of five lakh urban poor during the 10th Plan, sources said.

They said that till date 3,76,855 micro enterprises have been set up and 3,93,913 urban poor have been imparted skill up gradation training under the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY).

Sources said that under the Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY), 3,69,499 slum families have been covered for providing shelter or dwelling units and 59,885 sanitation units have been sanctioned.

Recently the Center launched the Jawahar Lal NehruNational Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in 63 identified cities with focus on development of urban infrastructure and governance and basic services to the urban poor.

The basic services include security of tenure, improved housing, water supply, sanitation and dovetailing schemes on education, health and social security.

In cities not identified under JNNURM, the Government has launched the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme which is aimed at providing housing and basic services to urban slum dwellers.

They said Centre has earmarked Rs 50,000 crore for this massive task.

The Ministry has also initiated steps to provide and promote a more supportive environment to enable street vendors to earn their livelihood by holding a National Level Workshop that saw participation of all stakeholders including state representatives, governments, vendors' associations and experts.

The idea is to make the National Policy for Urban Street Inadequate budget allocation schemes Vendors more effective and implement able, sources in the ministry said.