Tackling urban poverty big challenge: Selja

from New Kerala

New Delhi, The Centre today warned that urban poverty was likely to become one of the toughest problems in the country in the 21st century, as the proportion of indigent people in urban areas was higher than rural areas as seen in many states.

Addressing the first meeting of the National Core Group on Urban Poverty, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja said urbanisation must be encouraged to tackle rural poverty and to absorb more labour.

She said providing micro finance and entrepreneurial skills could address livelihood and poverty issues in cities.

The National Core Group on Urban Poverty has been constituted to assist the Ministry in the implementation of basic services to urban poor and in slum development.