Topics Covered: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Odisha- JAGA mission
What to study?
For Prelims: Key features of the mission, about Jaga mission.
For Mains: Significance and the need for the mission.
Context: Odisha has won the ‘World Habitat Award’, global recognition for its ambitious initiative — Jaga Mission.
Recently, this project was also awarded the ‘India Geospatial Excellence Award’ for technological innovation in transforming the lives of urban poor.
For Prelims:
About Jaga mission:
What is it? Odisha Liveable Habitat Mission “JAGA” is a society under Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha.
Composition: Headed by the Chief Secretary, Odisha as Chairman and Principal Secretary, H&UD as Member Secretary.
Aims:
- Transform the slums into liveable habitat with all necessary civic infrastructure and services at par with the better off areas within the same urban local body (ULB).
- Continuously improve the standard of the infrastructure and services and access to livelihood opportunities.
- Leverage and converge various schemes/ programs/ funding opportunities by strengthening collaboration among various Departments and other Stakeholders.
- Provide advisory support to Government of Odisha to examine options for policy reforms required for the sustainable transformation of lives of urban poor.
What is World Habitat Award?
This award is given by World Habitat, a UK-based organization, in partnership with United Nation (UN)-Habitat, every year, in recognition of innovative, outstanding, and revolutionary ideas, projects, and programmes from across the world.
Value addition for Mains:
Why land rights for slums matter?
More often than not, slums are seen as encroachments and slum dwellers, even if they stay in slums for decades, are not provided with any legal rights over the land. This illegality further condemns slums — which are an urban reality in Indian cities — to unsanitary conditions. Formal recognition of land rights allows for cleaner cities and better living conditions for slum dwellers.
Sources: the Hindu.
