MPUSP being implemented Rs 350 crore

Bhopal, Jan 18: A five-year (2006-11) programme Madhya Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor (MPUSP) is being implemented with financial aid of Rs 350 crore from DFID of the British Government in the state. Nearly half of the funds of DFID assisted programme are being spent on development works being carried out in the slums of four cities including Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore and Jabalpur. The remaining amount is being spent on carrying out slum improvement works in other urban local bodies.

The objective of the MPUSP programme is to enhance the capacity of selected urban local bodies to deliver better services to the urban poor. Under this ambitious five-year programme introduced from last year, the state government with the cooperation of the urban local bodies is carrying out a number of development works in the slums of the four cities. MPUSP is working with ULBs and slum communities to improve water and sanitation services including waste collection and to provide better roads, drains and streetlights.

Further under the programme, slums are selected in a participatory and transparent manner which has the ownership of the ULBs. Non-government organisations are being supported to strengthen community partnership for improved livelihoods and community based projects. An important feature of MPUSP is to improve citizens access to government through the introduction of e-governance and other delivery system which will simplify the services. MPUSP's activities have been selected and designed to target the poorest and most vulnerable groups and coordinate with the state government priorities as well as other urban programmes in the state. Moreover, MPUSP supports the pro-poor activities of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and other government and donor interventions.