Union, State and Union Territory governments adopt ‘National Declaration on Urban Governance and Housing for All’

Resolve to provide Housing for All by 2022 and to promote urban reforms

The Union, State and Union Territory governments today unanimously agreed to work together to provide housing for all by the year 2022. They have also resolved to actively implement the 25-point Urban Reforms Agenda proposed by the Union Minister of Urban Development, Housing & Poverty Alleviation Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu. To this effect, Ministers of Urban Development and Housing of the Union, States and Union Territories have unanimously adopted a three page ‘National Declaration on Urban Governance and Housing For All’ after a daylong deliberations on related issues. The Declaration recognizes ‘housing as a part of the dignity and indicator of quality of life of the individual’ and housing and construction industry supports more than 250 ancillary industries and contributes 9% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. Acknowledging the Union Government’s aspiration to provide housing for all by the 75the Year of Independence of the country in 2022, the Declaration lays special emphasis on housing for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Groups (LIG) and other vulnerable sections such as slum dwellers, SCs/STs, BCs, senior citizens, differently abled persons, widows etc. Under the Declaration, the Union Government has committed itself to rationalize approval processes and fund flows to States and Union Territories. The governments of India, States and Union Territories will empower the third tier of Urban Local Bodies as envisaged in the 74th Amendment to the Constitution. The States and Union Territories will make all efforts to encourage and involve all stakeholders for affordable housing and will complete ongoing works in this regard. They will also make efforts to encourage EWS/LIG housing by examining the possibility of liberal FAR/FSI, Ground Coverage along with Transferable Development Rights and examine the concept of deemed building permissions. States and UTs will also take up amendment of Rental Laws to balance the interests of owner and tenant with the goal of encouraging rental housing in urban areas. They will also make efforts to implement single window scheme for approval of lay-out and building permissions. Special focus will be laid on skill development to eliminate urban poverty. States and UTs will ensure peoples’ participation in governance, maintenance of public amenities, transparency in the system and accountability for proper growth of cities and towns. They also pledged to provide basic amenities like better roads, transport, sanitation, drinking water etc. Union, State and UT governments resolved to actively consider implementing the reforms suggested by Shri Venkaiah Naidu earlier in the day. These include-planning for slum free cities/towns, exploiting economic potential of cities with respect to tourism, health, education, business, heritage etc., inclusive zoning providing old age homes, night shelters, orphanages etc., provision of efficient infrastructure, solid waste management, promoting cycling, energy conservation, capacity building of urban local bodies, enacting for guaranteed services etc. Shri Naidu thanked the States/UTs for sharing the concerns of the central government in respect of urban management and its vision for future. He affirmed that ‘only performance will be the criteria for allocation of funds under urban projects and schemes’. He asserted that urban governance should be made corruption free saying that ‘if the water tank is polluted only dirty water will flow down’. The Minister also assured the States/UTs that their suggestions and concerns will be taken into consideration while recasting the various ongoing urban related projects and schemes.