1. Formulation of Urban Policy

Kerala is the first state in the country to formulate and declare a policy framework forurban development.  The policy was formulated in the context of the growing urbanization in the state.  The policy intends to facilitate planned and progressive growth of urbanization in the state.

The policy proposes to execute an action plan that outlines the following;

• Identity towns and cities that can be developed into prospective growth centres in the field of industry, tourism, information technology, commerce, trade etc.

• Make the participation of private sector available for the development of infrastructure.

• Ensure participatory mode of development in service sector.

• Formulate interim development plans for those cities and towns that are not included in existing urban development schemes.

• Enact unified town planning legislation in the state.

• Establish an urban development Innovation Fund with the objective of long-term development of urban areas.

• Collect development cess from the beneficiaries of new constructions and commercial enterprises in urban areas.

• Renovate heritage places and monuments without disturbing the air of legacy that surrounds them.
  

3. A Plan for the Comprehensive Development of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital City of Kerala

 The Government has initiated meaningful discussions to invite innovative suggestions and perspective on the prospects of developing Thiruvananthapuram city.  Scattered attempts by various departments towards this direction have been harnessed.  The primacy of developing the capital city has been brought to the attention of the central government. This has resulted in a joint decision by the central government and HUDCO to establish a habitat centre at Thiruvananthapuram for 30 crores.

The HUDCO also proposes to establish an exhibition cum sales centre for building materials – HUDCO HAT at Thiruvananthapuram.

4. Urban Poverty Alleviation Department at Cochin Corporation

This project, undertaken by the corporation of cochin with the financial assistance of the department for international development (UNITED KINGDOM) intends to improve the lives of 1.95 lakhs of urban dwellers who are below the poverty line.  Four lakhs of people will benefit indirectly from the project.  The objectives of the project are:

a. Improvement of the distribution of drinking water

b. Establishment of footpaths and street lighting

c. Building houses

d. Sanitation and disposal of wastes

e. Health care by means of creating awareness among people.

So far 35.44 crores out of the total project outlay of 70.76 crores have been spent on this project.  Proposal; worth 28 crores have been prepared for the year 2003-2004.

5. Jenasevana Kendrams – Computerization of Urban Local Bodies by the Information Kerala Mission.

 Employing the ever expanding possibilities of Information Communication Technologies ha always been an important agenda. The information Kerala Mission, the agency established by the Government of Kerala for computerizing local bodies in the state has developed and deployed the following software applications at the Kolla, Cochin, Thrissur and Kozhikode corporations:

              a. Sevana:  For the registration of birth death, stillbirth and marriage and the distribution of birth death and marriage certificates.

             b. Sahatha:  This software application facilitates the collection of receipts at the local bodies and the preparation of various consolidation reports on collection of receipts.

The computerized counters – Janasevana Kendrams – established at the Corporations for the collection of receipts, registration and issue of certificates has drastically changed the face of these urban local bodies as the citizens are given speedy services in a comfortable environment.  The staff members selected to serve at the counters have been given rigorous training on handling the software applications and creating people- friendly ambience at the Janasevana Kendrams

The following software applications are proposed to be installed at the urban local bodies in a few months from now.  The services offered by he urban local bodies would improve far beyond expected standards once these applications are installed and used.

Sulekha:  The software application for monitoring plan formulation and implementation processes.

Soochika:  To monitor the movement of files and the stages of decisions taken with regard to each file in the office.

Swathanthra:  A compilation of basic information on the urban local bodies in the state.

Sanchaya:  The application that facilitates estimation and collection of revenue from identified sources in urban local bodies.

Saphalya: To facilitates useful dissemination of employment information for job providers as well as job seekers.

Sthapana: To improve the accounting systems in urban local bodies

Sankhya: To improve the accounting systems in urban local bodies

Sugama: To enhance the efficiency and transparency of works and purchase related activities undertaken by urban local bodies

6. Private participation for infrastructure development

The Government encourages the participation of private sector (BOT, BOLT methods) in the comprehensive development projects prepared by the local bodies, particularly to build bus stands, markets, parking spaces, play grounds, shopping complex, roads, over bridges, waste disposal schemes, etc. A single window clearance mechanism has been instituted to accord technical and administrative sanctions to investments through Global Investment Meet.

7. Kerala Urban Development Finance corporation (KUDFC)

This is the nodal agency for coordinating and financing the implementation of various developmental projects undertaken by the urban local bodies in the state.  So far, the corporation has distributed 904 lakh rupees as credit through 33 urban local bodies in the state.  During 2001-2202, the Corporation has distributed 661 lakh rupees for various projects.  In the current financial year, 398.22 lakh rupees has been distributed as credit.  Amounts worth Rs. 215.10 lakh and Rs. 400.69 have been repaid to Banks and HUDCO respectively.

8. Housing Scheme for Municipal Staff

A massive project to provide the municipal staff (including contingent workers with financial assistance for building houses has been inaugurated on 22^nd July 2001 at Kasaragod.

9. Preparation of Town Plan

Considering the grievances of those who face inconvenience arisen out of the town plans drafted yeas back a new scheme for the preparation of scientific town plans has been initiated.

10. External Aid for Urban Development

An assistance of Rs. 1250 crores is expected from the Asian Development Bank for the development of urban areas. Kozhikode Corporation is one among the three cities selected from all over the world, by the Asian development Bank to provide grant for improving slums.  Manila in Philippines and Tenang in Vietnam,

11. Central assistance of 6000 crores for urban development:

The central government has agreed to provide assistance worth Rs. 6000 crores on submission of suitable urban development projects.

12. Kudumbashree in Urban areas:

The centrally sponsored Programmes for poverty alleviation, viz, Swarna Jayanthi Swa Rozgar Yojana, National Slum Fdeveopment Project, Valkmiki-Ambedkar Awas Yojna etc are being implemented through Kudumbasree Programme zealously.

13. Swarna Jayanthi Shahari Rozgar Yojana

This centrally sponsored programme for the development of the urban poor gives emphasis to economic self-reliance and independence by establishing enterprises by enhancing the skills required for self-entrepreneurship.  The components of his programme are: Urban Self-Employment Programme and Urban Wage Employment Programme.

a. Urban Self-Employment Programme:

The programme intends to facilitate identification of self-employment opportunities by means of individual and group enterprises.

b. Urban wage Employment Programme:

This project intends to provide employment to the members of poor families in urban areas as well as development of basic infrastructure.  This project would be employed only in small generated as part of this programme.

The details funds made available for the implementation of SJSRY are provided below:

National Slum Development Programme

           This project sponsored by the central government intends to improve the basic facilities of urban poor.  Each urban local body should propose comprehensive and integrated slum development project by utilizing the plan funds earmarked for slum improvement in their local plans and the available central assistance.  The details of the central assistance received so far are given below;

Valmiki Ambedkar Awaz Yojna:

This project intends to provide assistance to build houses for the slum dwellers in urban areas and to improve the infrastructure facilities.  In Kerala, the Kudumbasree implements this project.  The central and state assistance to the project is in the ratio 50:50.