The Centre has asked state governments to prepare time-bound action plans for providing all basic services for the urban poor in major cities in their respective states.
This has been suggested by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a letter addressed to the chief ministers.
Dr Manmohan Singh sought the personal attention of the chief ministers to promote the concept of inclusive cities in which every citizen has reasonable and affordable access to basic amenities.
The Prime Minister in his letter has said that the states have responded to the challenges offered by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
However, there is a need to focus on the component of basic services to the urban poor to implement the charter of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission..
This component relates to provision of basic entitlements and amenities to urban poor in terms of security of tenure, affordable housing, potable water, and sanitation facilities while envisaging convergence of health, education and social security.
Internal earmarking
The mission also seeks internal earmarking in urban local body budgets for provision of basic services to the urban poor.
The Prime Minister  also urged the chief ministers of the states to direct each city to develop these plans using innovative resource mobilisation models to finance the projects by combining funds provided by the Central and state governments with community and private resources.