Odisha model for up-gradation of urban slums gets international acclaim

Bhubaneswar, Jan 3: Odisha’s unique model for up-gradation of urban slums got international acclaim with conferring of World Habitat Award-2019 and Asia-Pacific Housing Award -2021 on the State.  This was known from the workshop on creation of basic infrastructure for slum habitats in urban forest areas held today in the convention centre of State Lokseba Bhawan .  Inaugurating the workshop, Chief Secretary, Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said, “Provision of descent and liveable habitats for urban dwellers is the dream of Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnaik; and, he has launched the path braking campaign JAGA Mission for the purpose”. Sri Mahapatra added, “The first phase of the Mission emphasis focused on grant of land rights to the slum dwellers of the NACs and Municipalities. In the “present second phase, the focus is on up-gradation of the slums and mainstreaming those with the urban living”.  Mentioning that the urban dwellers were inseparable part of the urban life, Sri Mahapatra directed to ensure assured, descent and liveable habitats for the old slum dwellers in all the urban bodies including the old slums in urban forest areas. Such provisions would be a right solution to the challenging problems like encroachment, evacuation, congestion, and poor living conditions in slums.   Addressing the workshop, Additional Chief Secretary Forest, Environment and Climate Change Dr Mona Sharma said that a well thought out standard operating procedure (SOP) for up-gradation of urban slums was worked out following the doctrines laid by the Chief Secretary. The SOP would resolve the problems relating to land rights and infrastructure development for the slum habitats in urban forest areas.