New Delhi: With big cities attracting
labourers from rural areas, a senior World Bank economist
on Thursday said governments should create opportunities in
underdeveloped localities instead of preventing migrants from
moving to urban clusters.
"Don't stop people from coming to big cities to improve
their lives where labour market exist. Let this process go.
But don't leave places that are left behind. Provide essential
services like infrastructure, public services everywhere,"
World Bank economist Somik Lall said.
Addressing the first 'habitat summit' on alternative
urban futures for India here, he said instead of focusing on
specific cities, government should consider policies that
enable development of other promising places also.
The Government should be as neutral as possible when it
comes to providing basic amenities in both rural and urban
areas, Lall, who has worked in identifying priorities for
public investments across several countries including Russia,
China and India, said.
Lauding the NREGA programme, he said "it has worked
because people have got opportunities in rural areas".
Suggesting that various projects should be identified
that focuses on long-term solution and basic requirements of
the city, CEO of the National Environment Agency, Singapore
Andrew Tan said "What we have achieved in Singapore can be
achieved in India," he said, adding projects like Delhi metro
can help improve the city and its future.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, September 24, 2009, 18:09