New Delhi: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) organized a key workshop on Urban Poverty Alleviation, bringing together policy makers and urban leaders from across the country. The event, held on September 23, 2024, aimed to explore innovative methods to address poverty in urban areas and pilot a new programme aimed at alleviating the conditions of the urban poor.
Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary of MoHUA, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the critical role of urbanization in providing opportunities for economic growth and poverty alleviation. He emphasized that innovative thinking is crucial for ensuring that vulnerable urban groups, especially youth, can access better livelihood opportunities.
The workshop saw active participation from State Mission Directors, Municipal Commissioners, and representatives from 25 selected cities, alongside senior officials from various departments. The event aimed to sensitize the States and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) on the pilot implementation of a proposed new programme designed to combat urban poverty.
A Strategic Approach to Urban Poverty Alleviation
The session opened with an overview of the proposed programme’s objectives, presented by Rahul Kapoor, Joint Secretary, MoHUA. The initiative seeks to tackle urban poverty through a multi-pronged approach, focusing on community-led institutional development, financial inclusion, enterprise development, capacity building, and the development of social infrastructure. Kapoor’s presentation also highlighted innovations in the livelihood space as a key aspect of the programme.
During the workshop, Srinivas Katikithala released the official Mission Document for the pilot implementation of the programme. He encouraged participants to think creatively during the pilot phase, urging States and Cities to explore various initiatives that could yield sustainable solutions for poverty alleviation in urban areas.
Innovative Solutions for Urban Challenges
In his address, Katikithala remarked, “Urbanisation provides various opportunities, and there is a need to harness these opportunities through innovative thinking so that the urban poor, particularly vulnerable groups including youths, can get access to better livelihoods opportunities.”
The workshop’s deliberations focused on how cities can leverage community-led institutional development to create more resilient urban environments. Emphasis was also placed on improving financial inclusion for marginalized groups and promoting enterprise development to boost economic participation among the urban poor.
Empowering Cities and Communities
The workshop’s key takeaways centered on the importance of empowering communities through targeted capacity building and social infrastructure development. Participants discussed how these efforts could be scaled during the pilot implementation to ensure tangible results for urban residents. The workshop also highlighted the need for collaboration across government bodies, financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations to deliver on these ambitious goals.
As MoHUA gears up for the pilot stage, the Ministry is committed to fostering innovation at both the state and local levels, ensuring that urban poverty alleviation remains a priority in India’s development agenda.