"Give Villages Urban Facilities"

Governor E S L Narasimhan has stressed the need to provide all important urban-like facilities in rural areas, and to promote and protect rural culture.

Speaking at the inaugural function of the 11th Asian Urbanization Conference in Hyderabad on Saturday, he said that facilities in rural areas are necessary to contain the migration of villagers to cities in search of a better livelihood, and that they would thereby spare the cities of additional urbanization problems.

The Governor said that according to a report, more than half of the world population is expected to be living in urban and semi-urban areas by the end of 2025. This is bound to put further pressure on the fragile urban habitats, which were not designed for rapid urbanization, he opined.

He said that the solution to the problems of urbanization can be partly met through the concept of PURA (Providing of Urban facilities in Rural Areas), promoted by the former President of India Abdul Kalam Azad, whereby rural communities can be provided with the entitlements and amenities that are now urban-centric.

A multi-pronged approach and sustained efforts for better urban governance, capacity-building, creation of inclusive cities, provision of low-income housing and the devolution of powers to local bodies and even beyond are also needed to tackle the problems of urbanization, the Governor added.

Osmania University Vice-Chancellor Prof. S Satyanarayana, Prof. Ashok Dutt from the University of Akron (US), Prof. Kalpana Markandey, Prof. B Laxmaiah, Dr. B Srinagesh and others spoke as well.

Several delegates from various Asian countries also attended the conference, organised by the Department of Geography, Osmania University, at the MCR HRD Institute here.

Earlier, the Governor released a souvenir brought out on the occasion. (INN)