Innovative slum development scheme USHA soon to be implemented

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, January 2: DC Ponnuraj said during a meeting held in his chamber on Jan 2, Saturday that an innovative scheme called Urban Statistics for Human Resource Assessment (USHA), which forms part of Kolache Nirmulana or Clean City initiative, will be implemented from Jan 18. 

 

 

The central government, which has ordered the implementation of this scheme, has suggested that various Self-help Groups (SHGs) be involved in it. The first phase of this scheme includes taking a survey of all the slum areas and, later, conducting meetings in it. 

MLA of Moodubidri Abhayachandra Jain said that, although Mangalore has the reputation of being a developed city, it lacks basic amenities. The implementation of USHA in Belthangady and Mulki must be assigned to Dharmasthala Self-help Group because it has the ability to deal with the people of this area and is committed to social welfare. 

A representative made a presentation and said that the urban poverty ratio of Karnataka is very high compared to that of Maharashtra. More than 24.4 million of pregnant women who reside in slum areas deliver at home and do not receive basic medical facilities, he informed. 

Krishna J Palemar, the district-in-charge minister, said that, since the representatives of the MCC are related to the scheme, they must exhibit total commitment to it and not just work because they are forced to. The USHA report will have to be submitted to the central government. 

He also said that the move of the central government to admit slum dwellers in the list of Common Public License (CPL) must be appreciated. The scheme will be of great benefit to slum dwellers. 

The minister suggested that a workshop must be arranged for the Lok Sabha, Taluk Panchayath, Zilla Panchayath, Self-help Groups, and other organizations before the implementation of USHA in order to familiarize them with its features, processes, and functioning.