President stresses edu, health infrastructure in urban areas

President Pranab Mukherjee today called for developing education and health infrastructure while initiating urbanisation which he termed as a continuous process that cannot be stopped.

The President expressed confidence that the present government led by Narendra Modi will fulfil its promise of providing "housing for all by 2022".

He handed over to 1,088 persons keys and ownership certificates for EWS houses built under the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Project at an event at Jiwaji University here.

"Urbanisation cannot stop. It will happen as economy advances further. We should make schemes so that in five to ten years, all should be getting housing. At one time, there was a slogan of 'roti, kapda and makan/magan raha hai Hindustan'.
 

"I would like to add education and health to this as these are also required so that our people should get the strength to take the country forward," Mukherjee said.

He congratulated the Prime Minister for providing housing to the poor, especially those living in the rural areas.

"I see a dream that the country with the second highest population in the world and having a vibrant democracy should rise from strength to strength. I am confident that the step this government has taken for providing housing to all will be fulfilled as promised," he said.

The President spoke in Hindi and later apologised for any mistake in his language.

Mukherjee said as on 2012 the housing shortage in urban India was to the tune of 1.88 crore and was growing further. If not addressed, it is expected to touch 3.5 crore dwelling units by 2022.

While urbanisation is a continuous and desirous process, governments have to ensure that it is tackled with a multi-pronged approach and must not only include urban planning but also investment in health and education infrastructure in rural India.

"I am happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a scheme - PM Awaas Yojna - which will ensure that all people will get housing by 2022. This problem is deep and it is not easy to solve this problem," he said.

Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Madhya Pradesh Governor O P Kohli and state minister Maya Singh were present on the occasion. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan was unable to attend the event due to ill health.