KTR seeks National Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme for urban poor

In a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Telangana's Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) requested the Centre to implement an MGNREGS-like plan for urban poor to boost social security measures in urban areas. KTR has urged that the Centre announce the National Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme (NUEGS) in the upcoming budget address, similar to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), to assist the country's urban poor.

KTR stated that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to light the plight of the urban poor, particularly migratory labour, who make up a sizable portion of the urban poor.

KTR is of the opinion that, with the support of the employee guarantee scheme, the government can provide job cards in urban areas, as it does in rural areas, and use their services to safeguard the urban landscape by involving them in city-level green action plans and basic infra works such as laying pavements and other service and repair tasks.