The government has chalked out several programmes for the betterment of urban poor, but still a lot needs to be done to uplift their living standards. The government has centered its attention on removing poverty of villagers, marginal and small farmers. Moreover, it has not ignored the urban poor. Central housing and urban development minister for state, Kumari Shailja said in Bhopal that all the state governments should ensure 25 per cent reservation to the urban poor in various civic bodies and other institutions. The minister was addressing audience during allotment programme of pucca houses to the beneficiaries under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNRUM). She lauded the works being done under the scheme. Also, there should be proper rehabilitation of the slum-dwellers, she emphasised. However, poverty cannot be removed only with JNNRUM, the minister added saying, the Union government has written a letter to the state governments in this connection to constitute poverty fund so that proper development of slum-dwellers takes place. The scheme is only for four years and with its implementation all the slums could not be removed. The financial uplift of the poor people is necessary for the same. Shailja said that these houses would be allotted in the name of women, so that the male members could not sell it. If the financial condition of the poor improves then their lifestyle would change automatically. There is need to provide more and more job opportunities to the poor so as to make the foundation for poverty fund strong. In all these efforts the role of the state government, central government and civic bodies, is important. If these three unitedly make arrangements then it would be better. It should be kept in mind that the living standard of the poor improves without imposing unnecessary burden on them. They should also realize that they have a role to play in the facilities they are to receive.