U.S., India Renew Joint Urban Development Efforts

NEW DELHI | December 14, 2004

The United States and India today launched a new phase of collaboration on infrastructure development that focuses on improving basic services for urban dwellers, particularly the poor. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of India (GOI) will work with all levels of government - center, states and municipalities - to generate capital for municipal public works and upgrade water and sanitation systems under a renewed, $19 million effort over five years.

In a workshop setting, keynote speakers William Martin, USAID India Acting Mission Director, and
M. Rajamani, GOI Joint Secretary of Urban Development, praised the decade-long Indo-U.S. partnership that has financed city upgrades and moved policy reforms forward. Today's event gathered together Indian city and state officials, financial institutions and development donors to discuss renewed efforts in the collaboration.

"We have found through experience around the world that water and sanitation services are best delivered at the local level. This is where people and government can work together to ensure dependable, quality services meet the customer's needs," said Martin.

Indian cities contribute more than 60 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Adequate infrastructure for basic services - as the country continues to urbanize rapidly - will be essential to sustainable growth. India's water and sanitation systems, especially in cities, are already overstressed - raising health risks and making domestic life a burden for women and girls.

USAID partners include the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, the National Institute of Urban Affairs, financial institutions and selected states and local urban bodies. U.S. consultant TCGI-PADCO will provide technical assistance and training.

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