Urban Policy and City Planning

ISBN: 978-81-956402-7-0
EVENT OUTCOME REPORT

Urban Policy and
City Planning
RUMI AIJAZ, SOUMYADIP CHATTOPADHYAY,

2023
SIMI MEHTA, ARJUN KUMAR
www.books.impriindia.com
ISBN: 978-81-956402-7-0
Urban Policy and City Planning
Event Outcome Report
Rumi Aijaz, Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, Simi Mehta, Arjun Kumar
IMPRI Books
IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi
Event Outcome Report
By Rumi Aijaz, Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, Simi Mehta, Arjun Kumar
ISBN: 978-81-956402-7-0
Copyright © IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi
Published in 2023
Published by: ARJUN KUMAR
Publisher’s Address: Impact and Policy Research Institute OPC Private Limited, 4-C, K Block, Saket,
New Delhi-110028
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Foreword
It is with great pleasure that I introduce this Event Outcome Report on the
#WebPolicyLearning program titled "One-Month Immersive Online Introductory
Certificate Training Course on Urban Policy and City Planning." Organized by the
#IMPRI Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies (CHURS), IMPRI Impact and
Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, this course brought together a constellation
of experts, scholars, practitioners, and participants from diverse fields and
regions. Through a series of thought-provoking panel discussions, this course aimed
to unravel the intricate tapestry of urbanization in India, its historical evolution,
contemporary challenges, and the potential pathways forward.
Urbanization is an unstoppable global phenomenon, and India, as one of the world's
most rapidly urbanizing countries, stands at the forefront of this transformative
process. The diverse aspects of urban development, with its promise and
challenges, were dissected and explored over the course of several weeks. From
the historical evolution of Indian cities to the intricacies of urban planning,
governance, social security, and the imperatives of waste management and
pollution prevention, these discussions offered an enlightening journey through the
multidimensional realm of urban policy and city planning in India.
As we delve into the pages of this compendium, we embark on a profound
exploration of the critical issues that shape India's urban landscape. We reflect on
the significance of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, which empowers local
governments and holds the key to more inclusive and sustainable urban
governance. We dissect the historical legacy of Indian cities, tracing their journey
from community-driven urban development to externally dictated urban planning.
We examine the paradox of urban planners' dependence on governmental agendas,
calling for human-centered, decentralized planning that harnesses the potential of
technology and community engagement.
The compendium takes us on a journey through the complexities of financing urban
infrastructure in India, emphasizing the need for substantial capital investments,
particularly in sustainable and climate-resilient projects. We explore the
challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to urban governance and the
importance of responsive state apparatus and decentralized governance structures
in crisis management.
Furthermore, it delves into the role of communities and civil society in urban
planning and development, emphasizing the importance of inclusive policymaking
and the need to amplify the voices of marginalized communities. It unpacks the
socio-economic implications of urbanization and the concept of the Right to City,
underscoring the significance of local democracy, inclusion, and migration in
urbanization.
The compendium concludes with a focus on India's urban development schemes,
highlighting their impact and the need for sustained demand for development. It
addresses the complexities of urban governance, emphasizing the role of clear
roles, robust local democracies, citizen participation, and local adaptation for
inclusive urban development. We also contemplate the way forward for urban
planning and governance in Indian cities, advocating for people-friendly cities,
inclusivity, and shared responsibility between citizens and authorities.
In a rapidly urbanizing world, understanding and shaping the trajectory of urban
development is of paramount importance. This compendium serves as a repository
of knowledge and insights, offering a holistic perspective on the challenges and
opportunities that lie ahead for India's cities. As we navigate the evolving urban
landscape, may these discussions inspire proactive reform, community-centered
approaches, and sustainable policies, ultimately contributing to the holistic
development of India's cities.
I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the organizers, speakers, and participants
who made this course a resounding success. Their collective wisdom and
commitment to urban policy and city planning provide a strong foundation upon
which we can build a brighter urban future for India.
Dr. Arjun Kumar

Director, IMPRI
( October 2023 )
Preface
It gives us immense pleasure to introduce to the readers ‘Urban Policy and City
Planning - Event Outcome Report’. Over the past few years, we have grown a lot
due to our association with some great personalities. Through an array of events in
our #WebPolicyTalk and #WebPolicyLearning Series on imperative issues, we have
tried to initiate a unique opportunity to delve deep into the heart of India's urban
landscape. Dr. Simi Mehta has been significant in establishing a discourse on urban
policies as the world is witnessing an unprecedented wave of urbanization, and
India stands at the forefront of this transformation. As the nation's cities evolve
with historical significance and modern complexities, understanding the intricacies
of urban policy and city planning becomes paramount.
This book is a collection of different ideas, debates, and experiences that will
satisfy our efforts toward a more effective, comprehensive, analytic, and inclusive
approach to Urban Policy. IMPRI New Delhi along with the Centre for Habitat,
Urban and Regional Studies (CHURS), has launched this book as an outcome report,
where readers will find insights into India's intellectual journey that explores
India's urbanization, its historical evolution, and the contemporary challenges it
faces. It also highlights the voices of eminent experts, scholars, and practitioners
who gathered to share their insights on a wide array of topics, ranging from urban
governance and social security to waste management and pollution prevention.
The preparation of this report has been possible with the dedicated efforts of
scholars, experts, architects, urban planners, and policymakers who contributed
their valuable experience and immersive analyses. Their collective expertise has
enriched this report, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in
understanding the interplay between India's Urban Policy and City Planning.
Rumi Aijaz, Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, Simi Mehta, Arjun Kumar

Contents
Chapter 1 Urban Policy and City Planning ............................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 2 An Overview of Urbanization & Urban Governance in India................................................. 11
Chapter 3 History of Indian Cities & Challenges towards Attaining SDGs ............................................ 13
Chapter 4 An Overview of Urban planning in India .......................................................................................... 15
Chapter 5 Mobility and Urban Transport in India ............................................................................................. 18
Chapter 6 Financing of Urban Infrastructure in India: Issues and Way Forward ............................ 24
Chapter 7 COVID-19 and Urban Governance in India Reshaping People’s Everyday Lives in
Poorer, Slums & Informal Urban Neighborhoods ............................................................................................. 27
Chapter 8 Urban Planning, Governance & Practice from an Administrator View & Local
Bodies – State / Central Governments Relation................................................................................................. 32
Chapter 9 Strengthening the Financial Health of Indian Cities: Urban Planning Schemes &
Initiatives ................................................................................................................................................................................. 34
Chapter 10 An Overview of Housing Policies & Housing Finance in India .......................................... 36
Chapter 11 Cities, Environment, Climate Change & Social Justice ............................................................ 38
Chapter 12 Waste Management and Air Pollution............................................................................................. 44
Chapter 13 Role of Communities & Civil Society in Urban Planning & Development .................. 52
Chapter 14 Migration and Right to City................................................................................................................... 55
Chapter 15 Inclusionary Urbanisation in India .................................................................................................. 58
Chapter 16 Social Security in Indian Cities Employment, Livelihoods, Health & Social
Protection ............................................................................................................................................................................... 64
Chapter 17 India’s Urban Development Schemes: Impact & Way Forward ........................................ 76
Chapter 18 The Missing Links in Governing Cities ........................................................................................... 79
Chapter 19 Urban Policy & City Governance in New India: Challenges & Opportunities ............ 82
Chapter 20 A Way Forward for Urban Planning & Governance in Indian Cities ............................ 85
ABOUT THE PROGRAM ....................................................................................................................................................... 89

Urban Policy and City Planning – Event Outcome Report
Chapter 1
A One-Month Immersive Online Introductory Certificate Training Course on Urban Policy

and City Planning was organized by #IMPRI Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional
Studies (CHURS), IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi in July (4, 5,
11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26), 2023.
The sessions were hosted by Mahek Agarwal, an IMPRI researcher who welcomed and
introduced the eminent speakers for the event. The course, spread over one month,
involved detailed discussion on various topics. The Conveners for the course were Dr
Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, Dr Tikender Singh, Mr Sameer Unhale, Dr Arjun Kumar,
and Dr. Simi Mehta.
The participants for the program were from all parts of the country and came from
various fields like academics, research, corporations, civil bodies, practitioners, and many
more.
Introduction
Urbanization is a global phenomenon that holds both promise and challenges. In India,
rapid urbanization has led to the evolution of cities with historical significance and
modern complexities. To shed light on these diverse aspects of urban development, a
series of insightful panel discussions were organized for several weeks. These discussions
brought together eminent experts, scholars, and practitioners to delve into the
multifaceted nature of Indian cities, their historical evolution, challenges in achieving
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), urban governance, social security, inclusive
urbanization, waste management, and pollution prevention.
Urbanization is more than just a demographic shift; it is a profound transformation that

touches every aspect of society. India, home to some of the world's oldest cities, is in the
midst of this transformative journey. To shed light on the multifaceted dimensions of
urban development, a series of insightful panel discussions and lectures were
meticulously curated.
Books.impriindia.com 1
From the very outset, the course sought to emphasize the holistic nature of urbanization.
It underscored that the challenges and opportunities presented by urbanization are
interwoven with governance, environment, social justice, and economics. Through this
comprehensive approach, the program aimed to empower participants with a 360-degree
view of India's urban landscape.
WEEK 1 | July 4 & 5, 2023 | Theme for Week 1: Overview, Planning, Policies &
Schemes
Day 1: An Overview of Urbanization & Urban Governance in India
The second session, “An Overview of Urbanization & Urban Governance in India,”
featured Professor Chetan Vaidya, an Independent Urban Advisor. Professor Vaidya’s
insights emphasized the need for diverse approaches to managing India’s complex urban
landscape. He highlighted the significance of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act in
empowering local governments and sharing successful urban governance models from
different states. The importance of public transport, multi-modal integration, and
sustainable mobility was underlined, along with the need for citizen participation in
urban planning.
History of Indian Cities & Challenges Towards Attaining SDGs
On July 04, 2023, a captivating panel discussion titled “History of Indian Cities &
Challenges towards Attaining SDGs” set the stage for a comprehensive exploration of
India’s urban journey. The event featured Shri Tikender Singh Panwar, a distinguished
Senior Fellow at IMPRI and the former Deputy Mayor of Shimla, as the keynote speaker. Mr.
Panwar’s presentation illuminated the historical evolution of Indian cities, contrasting
ancient urbanization with modern times.
He emphasized the shift from community-driven urban development to externally
dictated urban planning. The presentation highlighted architectural marvels from
different historical periods, providing a rich tapestry of urbanization in India. It traced
the impact of colonial rule, railways, and post-independence policies on urban
development, setting the context for the challenges in achieving SDGs.
Day 2: Urban Planning in India
The following panel discussion on “An Overview of Urban Planning in India” featured
Mr. Romi Khosla, an esteemed architect, researcher, and writer. Mr Khosla’s thought-
provoking insights addressed the paradox of urban planners’ dependence on
governmental agendas and the need for a shift towards human-centred, decentralized
planning. He advocated for the integration of technology and community engagement in
shaping urban landscapes. The importance of mesh planning over centralized
approaches was emphasized, aligning with the dynamic nature of modern urbanization.
Mobility and Urban Transport in India
Mr. Srinivas Alavilli, a Fellow at the World Resources Institute, led the discussion on
“Mobility and Urban Transport in India.” His session explored various modes of
commuting, principles of sustainable mobility, and challenges posed by induced demand
and infrastructure like flyovers. The discussion underscored the importance of non-
motorable transport, multi-modal integration, and effective governance in addressing
mobility challenges.
WEEK 2 | July 11 & 12, 2023 | Theme for Week 2: Economy, Finance, Infrastructure,
Practice & Built-Environment
Day 3: Financing of Urban Infrastructure in India – Issues and Way Forward
Dr. Ravikant Joshi led an insightful session on “Financing of Urban Infrastructure in

India – Issues and Way Forward.” He emphasized the significance of urban infrastructure
financing in both the global and Indian contexts. Cities contribute over 50% of the world’s
GDP and more than 70% of CO2 emissions, making them pivotal for economic growth
and climate change concerns.
Dr Joshi delved into India’s scenario, revealing that Indian cities require a substantial
capital investment of USD 840 billion for urban infrastructure and municipal services by
2036. This estimation, equivalent to 1.18% of GDP, presents a challenge as it primarily
focuses on conventional infrastructure, neglecting factors essential for building
sustainable and climate-resilient cities.
The discussion progressed with an examination of the financing structure from 2011 to
2018, indicating that a mere 0.8% of GDP contributed to infrastructure financing.
He outlined the investment distribution, with 72% coming from the centre and state
funds, 15% from ULB surpluses, and other sources contributing the remaining.
Dr. Joshi highlighted key issues in Indian urban infrastructure financing. The limited
share of municipal finance, considerably lower than national and state finance, along with
stagnant investment percentages (0.6-0.7%) proved to be significant challenges. The
dominance of national bodies in financing and the skewed allocation of funds across
states further compounded the problem. The inability of ULBs to augment their
resources, coupled with the lack of funds’ utilization, underscored the complexity of the
issue.
To address these challenges, Dr. Joshi proposed several solutions. Enhanced fund
transfers from the Government of India to ULBs, rectifying the municipal finance gap,
and incentivizing revenue generation were suggested. He stressed the need for policy
and regulatory measures to facilitate borrowing and capital market engagement by ULBs.
Additionally, improving financial and project management, budgetary reforms, and
capacity building were highlighted.
COVID-19 and Urban Governance in India: Reshaping People’s Everyday Lives in

Poorer, Slums & Informal Urban Neighbourhoods
Dr. Williams presented a compelling case study encompassing Chennai, Ahmedabad,

and Thiruvananthapuram, conducted in two phases: document analysis and interviews
with key stakeholders. The research emphasized the need for a responsive state
apparatus that meets evolving societal needs, highlighting India’s challenge of
underfinancing municipal corporations.
National responses, guided by the Disaster Management Act (2005) and Epidemic
Diseases Act (1897), were criticized for their control-oriented approach. Kerala stood out
for recognizing the pandemic as both a health and welfare crisis early on, utilizing
decentralized governance structures and learned experiences from past crises.
In Tamil Nadu, the extensive public distribution system and community-driven
initiatives played a pivotal role in pandemic mitigation, while Gujarat struggled with
limited welfare response and weaker embedded autonomy.
The presentation underscored the significance of community-level organizational

capacity, political visibility, and infrastructure for effective governance during crises.
Day 4: Urban Planning, Governance & Practice from an Administrator View & Local
Bodies – State / Central Governments Relation
Dr Akshaya K Sen offered an overview of Indian housing policies’ evolution. He detailed

policies like the National Housing Policy of 1994 and the National Urban Housing and
Habitat Policy of 2007, transitioning government roles from providers to facilitators.
Government initiatives and housing finance transformations were explored, along with
the National Urban Policy framework of 2018 and 2021.
These discussions collectively illuminated the challenges, opportunities, and

multifaceted nature of urban development in India. From planning intricacies to financial
sustenance and housing policies, the event provided holistic insights into a critical aspect
of India’s growth story.
Strengthening the Financial Health of Indian Cities & Indian Urban Planning Schemes
& Initiatives
Dr Soumyadip Chattopadhyay commenced his presentation by shedding light on the

critical issue of bolstering Indian cities’ financial stability.
He opened with macro statistics illustrating the challenges faced by municipal health,
where municipal revenue’s contribution to GDP has stagnated at around 1%, while self-
generated revenue to the country’s GDP hovers at 0.43%. Smaller urban local bodies
(ULBs) struggle to generate sufficient revenue, compounded by the additional duties
placed upon them.
Two key policy avenues were discussed for addressing this dilemma:
● Increasing revenue from existing local taxes
● Strengthening ULBs’ revenue-raising power by diversifying the revenue base
He introduced the audience to the Standard Bahl and Linn 1992 model, a simple
framework of municipal taxation. Chattopadhyay highlighted issues such as revenue-
obligation mismatches and the underutilization of available tax tools. The primary
challenge, he noted, is identifying feasible opportunities that can yield significant
impacts.
Criteria for municipal tax selection were explored, encompassing efficiency, equity,
economy, and transparency. Property tax emerged as an untapped revenue source. He
discussed the sectors requiring attention in property tax reform and the intricacies of
determining tax rates, addressing challenges, and potential policy strategies.
In conclusion, he summarized the various avenues through which municipalities can

generate funds, underlining potential pathways to enhance their financial well-being. He
emphasized the need to reduce reliance on central and state governments and bolster
local financial autonomy.
An Overview of Housing Policies & Housing Finance in India
Dr Akshaya K Sen’s presentation delved into the evolving landscape of Indian housing
policies. He underscored the escalating housing demand due to population growth,
necessitating effective policies. He traced the trajectory of Indian housing policies, from
the National Housing Policy of 1994, with its goals, to the pivotal National Housing and
Habitat Policy of 1998 that shifted the government’s role to a facilitator via legal reforms.
The National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy of 2007, which focused on affordable
housing for marginalized sections, deepened the government’s role. Government
initiatives like Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, Rajiv Awas Yojna, and
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna were highlighted, alongside models of the Affordable Rental
Housing Complex scheme.
The 2018 and 2021 National Urban Policy framework, adopting “MORE” pillars, aims to
address urban challenges. Dr. Sen explained the Draft National Urban Rental Housing
Policy’s objective of establishing inclusive rental housing options. Dr. Sen’s presentation
provided a comprehensive understanding of India’s housing policies, their evolution,
and the challenges associated, leaving the audience with valuable insights into the
nation’s ongoing efforts to meet housing demands.
WEEK 3 | July 18 & 19, 2023 | Theme for Week 3: Human Settlements, Social Security,
Environment & Welfare
Day 5: Cities, Environment, Climate Change & Social Justice
Mr. Leo F. Saldanha, the Founding Trustee and Coordinator of Environment Support Group
(ESG) in Bengaluru, commenced the event by addressing the audience on the intersection
of urban policy, environment, climate change, and social justice. He highlighted the
intricate nature of city life, particularly emphasizing the challenges faced by the working
class in areas like suburban Bangalore and electronic cities.
Mr Saldanha discussed the transformation of Bangalore and the concept of “Brand

Bangalore” under the recent return of the Congress party. He concluded with a call to
action, discussing the need for course corrections without commercial motivations, the
importance of Public Interest Litigations (PILs), and the Constitutional 74th Amendment
(Nagarpalika) Act of 1992 that aims to strengthen urban local bodies. The lecture
culminated in an exploration of the “Governance of Commons” approach, emphasizing
community-led goals for inclusive urban development.
Waste Management and Air Pollution
The final lecture by Dr. Shyamala Discussed key issues in waste management and
pollution prevention in India. The adverse impacts of improper waste management on
health, the environment, and climate change were highlighted. The lecture underscored
the need for proper waste management regulations, community engagement, and
sustainable urban planning to address these challenges.
Role of Communities & Civil Society in Urban Planning & Development
Ms. Vanessa Peter, Founder of the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban
Communities (IRCDUC) in Chennai, conducted a session titled “Role of Communities &
Civil Society in Urban Planning and Development.”Ms. Peter’s presentation focused on
two main areas: “Existing Challenges in Community Participation” and the “Role of
Activists and Civil Societies in Enhancing Community Participation.”
Addressing the first topic, Ms. Peter emphasized the need for community-led initiatives
rather than just participation. She highlighted that urban development often excludes the
voices of marginalized communities, stressing the importance of including vulnerable
perspectives in policymaking for creating inclusive and resilient cities. She shared her
experiences from participating in the Chennai master plan consultations, where issues
such as accessibility for visually impaired individuals were raised.
She discussed challenges like information asymmetry, language barriers, and class
divides that hinder genuine community participation. Ms. Peter emphasized the
significance of NGOs and civil society groups in helping communities frame their
feedback and navigate complex technical consultations. Regarding the second topic, Ms.
Peter discussed the vital role of activists and NGOs in creating safe spaces for
marginalized communities to engage in urban planning.
Day 6: Migration and Right to City
The session, led by Prof. R B Bhagat, delved into urbanization’s socio-economic

implications and the concept of the Right to City. Chairing the session, Dr Rumi Aijaz,
emphasized migration’s role in demography. Prof Bhagat highlighted urbanization’s
impact on economies, discussing economic concentration, wealth inequality, and its
correlation with migration. He introduced the Right to City, addressing its significance,
origin, and implications.
He underscored how commodification contributes to inequality and environmental
degradation. He emphasized local democracy, inclusion, and migration as vital
components of urbanization. Attendees engaged in a Q&A session covering topics like
post-COVID effects on migration and rural development. Dr Aijaz commended the
informative session’s insights and relevance.
Inclusionary Urbanisation in India
Prof. Debolina Kundu, from the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), led a panel
discussion on “Inclusive Urbanization in India.” The session addressed the
underaddressed issues of informal and peri-urban areas, gender exclusion, and the needs
of differently-abled individuals in urbanization. Prof. Kundu’s presentation covered
various aspects of inclusive urbanization, including child welfare, maternal health,
education, and the economic implications of urbanization.
Social Security in Indian Cities: Employment, Livelihoods, Health & Social Protection
Mr. Sandeep Chachra, Executive Director of ActionAid Association India, discussed “Social
Security, Employment, and Livelihoods in Indian Cities.” His presentation traced the
historical evolution of social security and emphasized the need for universal, high-quality
public services. The challenges posed by India’s large informal sector and fragmented
administrative systems were highlighted. Mr Chachra recommended a multi-sector
approach and investment in the Social and Solidarity Economy to address market and
state failures.
WEEK 4 | July 25 & 26, 2023 | Theme for Week 4: Current Issues, Challenges & Way
Forward
Day 7: India’s Urban Development Schemes: Impact & Way Forward
Dr. Deepak Sanan, a Former IAS Officer and Senior Advisor, led a session focusing on
“India’s Urban Development Schemes: Impact & Way Forward.” The discussion
examined the transition from rural to urban development focus post-independence and
the challenges faced in implementing schemes like the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban
Renewal Mission. The need for capacity building, citizen engagement, and sustained
demand for development was emphasized.
The Missing Links in Governing Cities
Professor Amita Bhide’s panel discussion on “Governing Cities: The Missing Links”
highlighted the unfulfilled promises of the 74th Constitutional Amendment and
deviations in urban governance schemes. The complexities of urban governance,
including overlapping authorities and financial challenges, were addressed. Professor
Bhide stressed the need for clear roles, robust local democracies, citizen participation, and
local adaptation for inclusive urban development.
Day 8: Urban Policy & City Governance in New India: Challenges & Opportunities
Dr. M Ramachandran, Former IAS officer and Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development,
Government of India, spearheaded a comprehensive discussion on “Urban Policy & City
Governance in New India: Challenges & Opportunities.” The session highlighted the
evolving urban landscape in India and the significance of collaborative governance
arrangements. Dr. Ramachandran stressed citizen engagement as a catalyst for positive
change and urged participants to actively contribute to their city’s development. The
panel discussions collectively illuminated the multifaceted challenges and opportunities
associated with urban policy and governance in contemporary India.
A Way Forward for Urban Planning & Governance in Indian Cities
Dr Rumi Aijaz led an insightful session on the way forward for urban planning and
governance in Indian cities. He discussed India’s demographic profile, emphasizing
urbanization trends and inequalities. Dr Aijaz highlighted human priorities across life
stages and stressed aligning policies with people’s concerns.
He critiqued existing urban planning practices for lacking an understanding of ground

realities, resulting in deficiencies in housing, sanitation, and disaster response.
He emphasized the need for people-friendly cities, inclusivity, and shared responsibility
between citizens and authorities. Case studies on Sabarmati Riverfront and Delhi’s
flooding underscored the importance of preparedness and cooperation. Dr. Aijaz
concluded by suggesting civic agency strengthening, technological integration, and
international cooperation to manage urban challenges.
Conclusion
These panel discussions and lectures provided a comprehensive overview of the

complexities and challenges of urban development in India. They illuminated the
historical evolution of Indian cities, the importance of citizen engagement, the
significance of governance, the need for social security, the urgency of waste
management, and the imperative of inclusive urbanization through urban planning.
Collectively, these discussions highlighted the multi-dimensional nature of urban
development, urging proactive reform, community-centered approaches, and
sustainable policies. As India’s urban landscape continues to evolve, these insights will
play a crucial role in shaping its future.
The courses ended with active participation from the audience who raised pertinent
questions throughout the sessions and contributed towards making this program a
success.
Chapter 2
An Overview of Urbanization & Urban Governance in India
Urban Policy & City Planning is a one-month online immersive certificate training course
organized by the Center for Habitat, Urban, and Regional Studies at Impact and Policy
Research Institute, IMPRI, New Delhi in July 2023. An informative and panel discussion
on the topic “An Overview of Urbanization & Urban Governance in India” was held
on July 04, 2023, by Prof Chetan Vaidya an Independent Urban Advisor and former Director,
School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA),
New Delhi.
The session was opened by Dr Rumi Aijaz, Senior Fellow and Head, of Urban Policy
Research Initiative, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), who drew a brief but well-
articulate introduction about the scale of urbanization in terms of the population that is
growing in urban areas and the changing characteristics of those urban areas and also
about the quality of governance in the country.
In conclusion, the speaker was graciously invited to share their insightful and thought-
provoking ideas with the participants on the traditional practices that are being followed
by the governing institutions in urban areas and what are the innovations that are being
used to make those practices work in a better manner.
An Overview of Urbanization & Urban Governance in India
The first speaker, was Prof Chetan Vaidya, An Independent Urban Advisor, and former
Director, at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and the National
Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), New Delhi. To start with, what urban is in the Indian
context, the urban trends and the projections, share of urban GDP, urban governance,
74th CAA, and three case studies.
He talked about the large urban India which is very large compared to many countries.
The approaches used for managing the urban sector should vary and it is very diversified.
He quoted fit for all” will not work. He explains about to improve our urban
infrastructure and governance to achieve economic objectives including providing jobs
for the young population.
Next up, he explained the importance of the 74th Constitutional Amendment to

understand urban governance. 74th CAA which caused a major change in governing the
urban sector which provided the constitutional status to Municipalities and other local
bodies and encouraged several other provisions for the betterment of the society.
Different cities adopted this model differently and the delivery of war supply, sanitation,
roads, etc. varies. The speaker provided various examples of the “Institutional
framework for services” for different cities like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Agra, etc.
To explain more about the statistical data, and the qualitative data, the speaker hovered
over different case studies. First up is that of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and its
Institutional structure showing their ways to manage urban systems. Secondly, about the
governance in Kerala, how 7the 4th CAA empowered the local government and ULBs
and set an example of being successful in urban decentralization.
The third case study taken up was of Indore Municipal Corporation and what are their
city development strategies. The focus was on improving source mobilization, the urban
system and most importantly communicating with the citizens. Certain reform efforts
undertaken were explained by the speaker and how the IMC improved its revenue
system. The fourth case study was of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and its reforms
and bonds.
He concluded by highlighting the lessons learned from different case studies and their
model of adoption of the 74th CAA.
Chapter 3
History of Indian Cities & Challenges towards Attaining SDGs
Urban Policy & City Planning is an online one-month online immersive certificate
training course organized by the Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies at
Impact and Policy Research Institute, IMPRI, New Delhi in July 2023. An informative and
panel discussion on the topic “History of Indian Cities & Challenges towards Attaining
SDGs” was held on July 04, 2023, by Shri Tikender Singh Panwar Senior Fellow, IMPRI,
Former Deputy Mayor, Shimla.
History of Cities
Mr Tikender Singh Panwar, Senior Fellow, IMPRI; Former Deputy Mayor, Shimla, was
welcomed by Dr Aijaz and was introduced to his robust work. He started his presentation
in 2000 AD, which is almost 3,500 years 3,500-year-old kind of urbanization experienced
in India. He opened up about the urbanization that used to take place in earlier times
which was way different from that of nowadays because now there’s a supreme
commander who decides whether it has to be smart cities, special purpose vehicles, etc.
But we have evolved from a space and time where people as a collective community
decide for themselves and not planned by someone for somebody else. The speaker
provided an example of the Great Bath at Mohenjodaro in which the drainage system
was depicted. The second example was of Gangetic basin cities which came in 1000 BC
Kashi, Ujjain, etc.
Next up, the speaker explained the evolutionary process of our civilization. During the
Mughal period, the urban settlement was more advanced and the economy was urban-
driven. With an example of Agra, Old Delhi, etc., he mentioned some features of that
period of development. Some differences between the two time periods mentioned earlier
in terms of architecture were demonstrated.
Followed with the timeline, Pre-colonial and colonial cities, and their features were
covered by the speaker. Also, the differences between those two eras were highlighted to
better understand city management. Examples of major architectural elements of that
time from different cities and the major impact of the colonial period were displayed.
Development in mountains was found along the rivers and is very small and the reason
for the development is that they couldn’t bear the heat, and, in a way, it has been
definitely ruined.
Being the former Deputy Mayor of Shimla, the speaker shared his own experience about
the introduction of the railways in the city which also acted as the driving force with
industrial capitalism. It is not just for the people to enjoy the railways, but the massive
timber which was to be extracted from the mountains and also exchanging goods from
one corner of the world to another.
In continuation, the time period of Indian cities from 1947-1991 was illustrated and its
essential features of development. How migration from east and west Pakistan affected
the urbanization pattern and all the nagars in Delhi are actually refugees’ colonies with
the help of statistical data and examples of different cities were represented. After the
Post-colonial Cities, a great transformation took place from the manufacturing to the
services sector. The economy was opened in different parts of the country in different
time periods starting from 1991 and beyond.
Following this, the speaker in compliance with Prof. Vaidya on the 74th CAA was
mentioned. JNNURM, with 2 sub-missions- “Urban Infrastructure & Governance”, and
“Basic Services to the Urban Poor” failed in January 2012. The post-2014 period is a very
interesting period because it is not just a continuation of the JNNURM but also several
flagship programs, smart city mission, AMRUT, SBM, PMAY, and HRIDAY for urban
development.
Concluding the lecture, the speaker mentioned the challenges and problems faced by the
missions and the measures that need to be taken to overcome those.
Chapter 4
An Overview of Urban planning in India
Impact and Policy Research Institute, IMPRI, New Delhi in the month of July 2023. An
informative and panel discussion on the topic “An overview of Urban planning in
India” was held on July 05, 2023, by Romi Khosla an eminent architect, researcher, writer, and
director at Romi Khosla Design Studios.
The first session of day 2 commenced with the remarks of the chair, Dr Rumi Aijaz. Dr
Aijaz highlighted the relevance of the session’s topic for coming up with better urban
plans for the country. He talks about the complexities of the task of urban planning on
numerous fronts, from contemporary challenges to effective implementation. With many
towns and cities in India lacking a master plan which entails chaotic growth and with a
mere 50% implementation of urban plans, he reiterates the importance of the topic in the
present context.
Mr Romi Khosla began his lecture by personifying the discipline of Urban Planning in
today’s time as a parrot trapped in a cage who is feeling unwell. In literal terms, urban
planning is no longer independent and is reduced to a servant to governing ambitions.
This is a persistent dilemma in the field of Urban Planning today as urban planners are
not trained to handle such hindrances, with them being sub-servants to government
administrations who comparatively have a lower degree of expertise in this realm. He
conveyed that urban planners need to question their relevance to society and mentioned
the need to bring about a fundamental change by changing themselves instead of finding
problems in the world.
Reasons for the Hijacking of the Discipline of Urban Planning
Mr Romi Khosla explained two major reasons which have rendered Urban Planning
irrelevant:
● Economists have misled urban planners to believe that GDP has something to do
with the wealth of the nation.
● The idea that urban settlements generate over 70% of GDP in our country
dominates their thinking and the way they look at success. Measuring the success
of a policy by the economic value it creates is a fallacy for urban planners as they
have been trained to deal with humans and society. Urban planners view human
beings differently than economists; their concern is preserving their belief in
human beings. Conventional macroeconomic systems view humans as means to
an end, regarding them as mere actors working towards making the nation’s
wealth.
However, urban planners think that people’s central goal is not to make wealth but to be
happy. Thus, while planning a city, urban planners’ central objective is the happiness of
the residents and not the economic value it can generate. Economists think about human
purpose while urban planners think about the human condition.
Revitalizing the discipline of urban planning
Mr Khosla reinforced the need for profound changes to make the discipline of Urban
Planning relevant. Instead of waiting for the administration to pass amendments, urban
planners need to change themselves.
● Realigning the crucial role of technology in human development. It is crypto

technology, a technology that eliminates the need for an intermediary, combined
with AI that can allow urban planners to serve the human condition. Crypto
technology is crucial in the service of distributive governance to become
instrumental in giving us a new distributed mesh of sociopolitical systems to
replace the outdated centralized urban planning process.
The speaker mentioned that urban planners have neglected the role of technology
including data collection in planning. It is imperative to resort to micro-level
digital collection and do away with outdated methods. It means that urban
planners should collect data at the panchayat level and aggregate it for the entire
settlement pattern of the country.
● Deepening the participation of citizens in the decision-making process of Urban

Planning. Urban Planning should present itself as the art of human planning rather
than pretending to be a scientific process. The existential change today attributed
to climate change and social change due to mass migration needs to be handled at
the core by communities themselves because different communities are affected
differently due to these changes. This makes it imperative for governments to start
working on inter-governmental and inter-community agreements to achieve a
new balance between central and
decentralized governments.
Today, even panchayats are globally linked, paving the way for communities to
be digitally connected, self-operational, and self-defensive to protect their interests
in the future. Thus, decentralizing planning platforms at the panchayat level
followed by district and state levels is the key to future planning. The speaker
envisions professional settlement planners using open sourcing for settlement
planning opportunities through digital decentralized platforms.
● He is deeply concerned by the serious trust deficit between the elected

representatives, bureaucracy, and urban planning professionals which makes it
impossible for quality work to be produced. Thus, urban planners have to create
a mechanism for bureaucracy, government officials, and citizens to trust them. The
need to assemble a new and updated vocabulary. For instance, abandoning the old
way to classify towns into urban, rural, middle, third income, or metropolitan,
something which is irrelevant today.
To conclude, Mr Khosla mentioned that as a planner, he has little sympathy for policy
documents like India’s Urban Awakening and Industrial Corridors because they do not
take into account the human condition. He reiterates that we should do mesh planning
instead of centralized planning. Lastly, he used a video to depict the pattern of urban
planning in India to make the participants understand the thinking process of urban
planners.
In his closing remarks, the chair, Dr Rumi Aijaz also stressed the need for the use of
technology in planning, something which has been long overlooked. He lauded Dr
Khosla’s presentation for the wonderful ideas presented.
Post this, the floor was opened for questions. It received enthusiastic participation and
questions revolved around topics like participatory digital place-making, block ledgers,
neo-liberal models, digital form of governance, middle-class antagonism to the poor,
land-use planning, 15-minute city model, and incorporation of population dynamics into
urban planning.
Chapter 5
Mobility and Urban Transport in India
training course organized by Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies at Impact
and Policy Research Institute, IMPRI, New Delhi in July 2023. An informative and panel
discussion on the topic “Mobility and Urban Transport in India” was held on July 05,
2023, by Mr Srinivas Alavilli, Fellow, Integrated Transport and Road Safety, World Resources
Institute, India.
The second session of day 2 was set about with welcoming remarks by the chair of the
session, Dr Rumi Aijaz. He conveyed the importance of the session’s topic. Commute is
an essential part of everyone’s lives and the dearth of adequate public transport has led
to an enormous growth of private motor vehicles which has negatively impacted our
physical and mental well-being.
Mr Alavilli believes that the general public should be aware of various terminologies
pertaining to the field of urban mobility. Thus, he began the session by introducing the
terminologies in urban mobility.
What is mobility?
Mobility is a ticket to livelihood. It affects everyone from infants to senior citizens to those
who require assistance to move. The key to framing a good policy concerning mobility is
to keep in mind all the citizens that will be affected by it. Talking about traffic, Mr Alavilli
explained that people fail to see the bigger picture since they are not experiencing traffic
but are the ones causing it.
Further, he discussed different modes of commuting. Resonating mobility with just cars
is a flawed representation. Even today, the most widely used form of commuting in urban
areas is walking. The largest manufacturer of cycles in the world is Punjab which makes
it evident that cycling is another important mode of commute, used not just for recreation
but also for livelihood. However, cycles are disappearing from Indian streets due to
safety issues.
In his opinion, the bus is the king of Indian city roads, an undisputed leader. Citing an
example, he mentioned that if bus services stop in Bengaluru, the entire city will come to
a standstill. Additionally, urban freight transport is also of crucial importance to the
economic vitality of urban areas since it forms the backbone of the e-commerce and the
delivery industry.
What is a trip?
If a person goes from A to B and then from B to A, there are a total of two trips. It is an
important terminology for understanding news and articles about urban mobility.
Principles of Urban Mobility
● Sustainable Mobility– It focuses on the accessibility and eco-friendliness of different

modes of mobility.
● Move people, not vehicles– Four golden words of urban mobility. It describes the
right approach when creating a policy concerning mobility and the execution of
such a policy automatically leads us closer to a sustainable city.
● Induced Demand– It states that increasing road spaces increases the number of
vehicles. It proves that adding road spaces does not tackle the problem of traffic,
e.g., even a 12-lane road in Gurugram failed to curtail traffic.
Why aren’t flyovers the solution to traffic problems?
The reason behind flyovers failing to be the solution to the problems of urban mobility is
embedded in the principle of induced demand. Flyovers are a short-sighted solution.
They attract more commuters, thus defeating the very purpose they were meant to solve
by reducing traffic. Constructing a flyover also means creating urban heat islands, for
instance, a concrete pillar of the metro is a heat island. Due to this, many cities in the
world including Seoul and some cities in the US are removing flyovers. There are cases
where flyovers are necessary, like going over a railway line or a waterbody or connecting
two highways, but flyovers are not the solution for reducing traffic inside a city.
The Tale of Two Cities- Mumbai and Bengaluru
Mumbai and Bengaluru have a population of around 2.2 crore and 1.2 crore respectively.
What is surprising is that despite Mumbai being almost twice as populated as Bengaluru,
the latter has 1 crore vehicles whereas the former has less than 60 lakh vehicles. He
explained the reason behind this is the Mumbai local trains, existing since 1868 and used
by 75 lakh people every day due to which traffic in Mumbai is not as severe. In contrast,
this lack of public transport in Bengaluru is the major reason behind its traffic snarl.
Vehicle population growth in Bengaluru
The number of vehicles in Bengaluru, both two-wheelers and cars, has grown
exponentially over the past 10 years. There are more vehicles in the city than the number
of adults excluding people older than 70-80 who no longer use a car or a two-wheeler.
This causes the problem of the eternal traffic in Bengaluru. In 2016, a study found that
40% of the residential roads in the city are occupied by parked vehicles leading to
shrinking road space and causing traffic jams all over the city.
The environmental perspective
Mr Alavilli cites WRI data to depict that the transportation sector accounts for 14% of
global GHG emissions. 45% of this emission is accounted for by cars whereas buses
account for only 5% of the emissions. In Delhi, 39.1% of pollution accounts for the
transport sector. Thus, it is imperative to focus on transportation to curb pollution.
Tackling Urban Mobility with Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS)
Mr Alavilli showed a picture of Copenhagen to demonstrate the number of cars

(considering two people in each car) that can be replaced by a single bus, thereby
addressing the dual problem of traffic and pollution.
A similar experiment was done by his team, demanding a bus priority lane at the outer
ring road, one of the busiest roads in Bengaluru. He explained that buses should get a
priority on the street since they aren’t the ones causing traffic rather bus users are making
a conscious choice so they shouldn’t be the ones waiting long hours in the traffic.
Moreover, many people avoid taking a bus because it is slow as it makes stops in between.
Provision for a priority bus lane will give buses the required speed, thereby making it
preferable to more people. Such exclusive lanes called Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS)
have been already built in Ahmedabad, Surat, and Indore.
BRTS vs Metro vs. Flyovers
The cost of making exclusive bus lanes is much less than the cost of a metro project. He
mentioned that while the metro is essential in cities like Delhi and Bengaluru, it is a better
idea to consider BRTS in tier-2 and tier-3 cities keeping in mind both its cost and
sustainability. On the contrary, flyovers are the worst option as they cost a fortune and
accommodate the least number of people.
BRTS has the highest rate of return among all three options. Thus, the government must
build more BRTS to address the problems of urban mobility. He expressed that the
solution to the traffic problem in Bengaluru lies in building more bus lanes and more
metro and suburban trains for inter-city commutes.
Intermediate Transport
Intermediate transport like autos and e-rickshaws are an extremely important pillar of
urban mobility. The more public transport services we have, the more intermediate
transport is needed since public transport is never a door-to-door service.
Non-motorable Transport
Any transport that doesn’t involve machines, petrol, diesel, or electricity constitutes non-
motorable transport such as cycling and walking. They are also called active mobility as
they rely on human physical effort. Moreover, public transport and walking form a very
big combination. To make non-motorable transport preferable, we need to make it safe
by minimizing obstructions and providing good footpaths. In fact, the first step towards
fixing transport should be fixing footpaths.
Modal Share
Modal share is the share of different public transport modes in a city. 63% of all travel is
carried by trains and buses in Mumbai which helps reduce the traffic burden on the city.
Car is used only by 9% of people but its social costs are the most palpable. Therefore, we
must disincentivize people from purchasing cars. This can be done by increasing parking
costs or imposing higher taxes on car purchases. For instance, Singapore has a 100% tax
policy for cars and the taxation money goes towards sustainable transport solutions. In
London, coming inside the city in a car incurs a tax of 10 euros.
First Mile and Last Mile
The first mile is the trip from home to the primary mode of transport (metro/bus). The
last mile is the trip from the primary mode to one’s destination.
Multi-Modal Integration
It refers to the integrated use of several different forms of transport. Facilities of feeder
buses, cycle parking at metro stations, etc. constitute multi-modal integration. The oyster
card in London, an excellent example of multi-modal integration, is used to facilitate
travel by metro, bus, and all public transport. It is hassle-free as it eliminates the need for
conductors to issue tickets and is time-saving and cost-friendly.
Governance Aspects of Mobility
● Mobility is a part of the master plan for a city or a town. To ensure sustainable
mobility, we need to plan cities away from the urban sprawl towards Transit
Oriented Development (TOD) so that people don’t need to travel long distances to
access facilities.
● Local governance and citizen participation are extremely important for mobility
as people in the local area know their needs the best. This is called the principle of
subsidiarity.
● A Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) for each city to control the
planning and coordination of all modes of transport is of prime importance to
facilitate the implementation of urban transport programs and manage integrated
urban transport systems.
In his concluding statement, Mr Alavilli shared that “it is often said in development
economics that an investment in public transport is same as an investment in public health”. He
regards schemes providing free public transport, a phenomenon practiced across the
world, as a prudent investment in public transport, for instance, the Shakti Scheme in
Karnataka, which provides free bus services to women. He reiterated the need to
encourage the use of public transport by citing the example of Paris, where train and bus
tickets become free on a day when the pollution level is high.
This was followed by a Q&A session in which questions revolved around off-street
parking proposals for Indian cities, the political economy around BRTS vs. metro,
aspirational ownership of vehicles, accessibility of buses by differently-abled persons,
safety concerns for women in buses, vending zones in urban areas and the challenges
they pose to mobility, TOD, self-driving cars, integration of apps with public
transportation and many others. In conclusion, the session left the participants with an
increased sensitivity towards transportation-related problems in India and a broadened
understanding of the field of urban mobility.
Chapter 6
Financing of Urban Infrastructure in India

Issues and Way Forward
A one-month immersive online introductory certificate training course: Urban Policy &
City Planning is organized by Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies at Impact
and Policy Research Institute, IMPRI, New Delhi. The program is chaired by Dr. Rumi
Aijaz and convened by Dr. Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, Dr. Tikender Singh, Mr. Sameer
Unhale, Dr. Arjun Kumar, and Dr. Simi Mehta. Day 3 of the illuminating program began
with a session by Dr. Ravikant Joshi on the theme ‘Economy, Finance, Infrastructure,
Practice, and Building Environment’. He particularly touched upon the topic ‘Financing
of Urban Infrastructure in India – Issues and Way Forward’.
Introduction of Urban Infrastructure
The session began with an introduction to the importance of financing infrastructure

around the globe and in India and how more than 50% of the world’s GDP is accounted
for by cities around d the world. Dr. Joshi discussed how cities are responsible for more
than 70% of the global CO2 production and hence are one of the key factors that
contribute towards climate change. He also shared how a transformed and well-
developed city and urban infrastructure can increase the society’s level of economic
welfare. The paradoxical issue of building infrastructure and well-developed cities and
creating a sustainable and climate-resilient plan was also touched upon by him.
Case Study: India
Dr Joshi further elaborated on the Indian context and how Indian cities require an
estimated capital investment of USD 840 billion in urban infrastructure and municipal
services in the 15 years till 2036. This is equivalent to 1.18% of the estimated gross
domestic product (GDP)over this period.
One of the key hurdles behind this estimation lies in the fact that it only considers the
conventional infrastructure and does not take into account the low-emission, climate-
resilient factors that are needed to build sustainable cities.
The session continued with a deeper look into the financing structure and demographics
of urban infrastructure from 2011 to 2018. It can be observed that merely 0.8% of GDP has
been contributed towards the financing requirements of infrastructure and the structure
of this investment is as follows:
● Centre and state-funded 72% investment

● 15% came from the surplus of ULBs
● Other sources- 8% HUDCO loans, 3% PPP, 2& commercial debt
Issues with India
Issues of financing urban infrastructure in India further shone a light upon where one of
the major hurdles was their minuscule share of municipal finance which remained much
lower than national and state finance from 2002-2018. Additionally, the share of
investment remained stagnant at 0.6-0.7% throughout the given period.
The shrinking of urban local bodies has also been one of the main issues in urban
infrastructure investment and cities are mainly being financed by national bodies rather
than local regulatory bodies. Urban financing has also been disproportionate and skewed
and the four states which account for 38% of the population namely Gujrat, Maharashtra,
Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka hold 60% of the urban investment. Moreover, urban local
bodies are unable to augment their resources
All this is further accompanied by the inability of the government of India to devolve
funds and the inability of UBLs to absorb funds. The GOI has only released 54% of the
funds of what it was supposed to and the total utilization against the project outlays is
only 30%.
Municipal bodies have not been able to leverage their resources and the urban local
bodies have also not been able to leverage funds due to lack of creditworthiness. Also,
the role of public-private partnerships (PPP) has reduced to null after a peak in 2009-2012
due to a great collapse in the risk appetite of the public sector.
Way Forward for India
Dr. Joshi continued the session with an enlightening dialogue on the solutions to the
hurdles discussed before and a way forward. The GOI must step up their transfers for
urban infrastructure investment to ULB and the shrinking space of municipal finance
must be remedied by giving additional resources to ULBs and augmenting revenue from
existing sources.
Also, special efforts must be undertaken to reduce the disproportionate and skewed
financing amongst states and link incentives to increase OSRs by ULBs. Policy and
regulatory enablers must be set up for borrowing and programmatic efforts must be
undertaken to enable ULBs to capture the capital market. Additionally, financial
management, project management, budgetary reforms, and capacity building of ULBs
must be ensured.
The role of PPP must be enhanced strategically and the impact of GST must be remedied
through constitutional amendments. Lastly, the adoption of the FRBM Act (Financial
Accountability and Sustainability Framework) and decentralization must be considered
and implemented effectively.
Conclusion
The session was concluded with a conclusory and thanking note by Dr. Rumi Aijaz who
reinstated the importance of ULBs in populous countries like India and how
decentralization of power and regulation is essential for a sustainable environment.
Although the government of India has been running various programs for the financial
empowerment of ULBs this transformation has been taking place at a very gradual pace.
At last, a brief QnA session took place which posed questions on how the private sector
impacts urban policy and how the government may affect the local level positively or
negatively, how CSR funds may impact the financing of healthcare infrastructure in
India, and the role of market instruments such as TDR or TR and the nexus between
politicians, bureaucrats and developers and builders in cities like Mumbai and finally the
role of municipal bonds in India. With this, the session came to a fruitful end.
Chapter 7
COVID-19 and Urban Governance in India

Reshaping People’s Everyday Lives in Poorer, Slums &
Informal Urban Neighborhoods
LPPYF Law and Public Policy Youth Fellowship is an Online National Summer School
Program, a Two-Month Online Immersive Legal Awareness & Action Research
Certificate Training Course and Internship Program, from June-August 2023 by IMPRI
Impact and Policy Research Institute.
An informative and interactive panel discussion on “Pandemic and Its Impact” was held
on the 12th of July 2023 by Dr Glyn Williams, Reader, Department of Urban Studies and
Planning, University of Sheffield, UK.
IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi hosted the second session of
LPPYF- Law and Public Policy Youth Fellowship, on 14th June 2023. Savleen Kaur,
researcher at IMPRI, kicked off the session by welcoming the attendees & introducing the
panelists.
The session was chaired by Prof Vibhuti Patel, Visiting Distinguished Professor, at
IMPRI. Prof Vibhuti Patel began this session with a warm expression of gratitude towards
team IMPRI. She then proceeded with a recap of the takeaways from the session 1 and 2
of the LPPYF program. She informed that session 3 is an important discussion on
“Pandemic and Its Impact” by Dr Glyn Williams, Reader, Department of Urban Studies
and Planning, University of Sheffield, UK
Impact of Pandemic
The session began with a brief discussion on how the pandemic shaped the lives of people
who are governing and those being governed. For the governing side, the pandemic
invoked a sense of exceptionality and hurdles in performing governance. The
government and policymakers had to perceive real data in a limited time and make
critical decisions about the same. Besides these challenges, governments and institutions
faced capacity issues in almost all perceivable sectors i.e. health, education, etc.
On the other hand, those being governed were faced with different elements and actions
by the state that were never experienced before. This not only changed the dynamic
between the state and citizens but also led to strained relationships between them.
Following this he stressed upon the situation that actually took place during the
pandemic.
How the state responses often stressed disease control over welfare measures given the
uncertain nature of the pandemic which threatened the very survival of the population.
These lockdowns exacerbated poverty and inequality within different strata of society as
household incomes diminished and people were pushed into greater personal debt while
nations also feared increasing national-level debt. Additionally, the state capacity was
stretched and overwhelmed and new multi-scalar ways of governance emerged within
several countries. These situations raised a set of stressful questions that led to dilemmas
among everyone.
Action and Response
Why and how did different state and national governments react differently? And since
governments are reacting in so many different ways and if poverty and inequality have
been exacerbated who fell through safety nets and why? If governments were stretched
and overwhelmed, how did they react to enhance and expand their state capacity? How
did these dire situations change the interface between states and society? And lastly, have
exceptional governance measures been embedded for a longer term?
Case Study
Dr.Williams further shared his project with his co-authors where they conducted a three-
city comparison between Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Thiruvananthapuram. The research
is unfolded in 2 phases: the first phase is a document-based analysis during the peak of
the pandemic which includes looking into government orders, news reports, and
academic reports to find the effect of the pandemic on everyday life. Phase 2 of the same
includes detailed interviews of key resource individuals including community leaders,
frontline workers, household members, and more.
The pandemic stressed the importance of creating changes in the welfare system to cater
to the exceptional demands. A state apparatus that is well networked and responsive to
social needs, yet highly rational and responsive is needed.
The underfinancing of municipal corporations and the underpowering of municipal
governments is another crucial challenge for India as a whole.
The project also includes a bottom-up approach to see how poorer sections of society
engage with different organs of the state and if they are receiving welfare or relief
services. Another important element is improvisation and how the state apparatus
innovates and changes in response to the exceptional COVID-19 conditions and what
risks and costs might be associated with this change.
He further focused on the national picture in response to the pandemic and the two
legislations that guided the actions. First is the Disaster Management Act 2005 and the
Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 which have not been well suited for the needs of the
pandemic. These acts which are mainly control and command focused led to a poor
national response. Additionally, centralised resources including the PM-CARE fund
were passed onto the states for their implementation which led to inefficient
implementation and usage. Focus was also laid upon national welfare packages and
incentives which though had a large budgetary outlay turned out to be small amounts in
terms of per capita allocation.
Dr. Williams then discussed the response of Kerela to the pandemic which not just
recognized COVID-19 as a disease con troll challenge very early on but also as a welfare
crisis for the state. It utilized its already set up decentralized government units and ward-
level rapid response teams to coordinate implementation at the state level. One
advantage that Kerela possessed in comparison to the other states was its already well-
built infrastructure due to the previously experienced outbreak of the Nipah virus and
violent flooding in 2018.
A further discussion followed which included the different responses of neighbourhoods

in Kerela including Rajaji Nagar, Poonthura, and VJP Nagar. Comparing these three
parallel cases local political conditions vary but they all have one thing in common, that
is, a good delivery of public distribution system, cash benefits, etc.
Next, the extensive public distribution system played a major role in Tamil Nadu/
Chennai. Amma Canteens, War rooms, gate meetings, fever surveillance workers, and
GCC volunteers were some of the main reasons for successful mitigation during the
pandemic. A deeper dive was taken into the neighbourhoods of Tamil Nadu which
included Korukkupet, Triplicane, and Perumbakkam. One thing that came to notice was
that those communities that lay outside the city limits and beyond the urban
infrastructure were largely bereft and faced multiple hardships during the pandemic.
Lastly, the limited welfare response in Gujrat/ Ahmedabad was discussed wherein the
government tried to provide additional support through its PDS system but didn’t
necessarily take steps to improve its efficiency. Though the government initiated the
redeployment of state workers such as ASHA workers, and Anganwadi workers its
presence felt much less than in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. So, embedded autonomy proved
to be weaker here as compared to the other states. Furthermore, the pandemic responses
Amraiwadi, Jamalpur, and Ganesh Nagar were delved deeper into.
Conclusion
In conclusion of the presentation, the community-level organizational capacity differed

significantly across the 3 states. The political visibility and wider connections within the
community matter and welfare measures are weakened when the communities are
already stigmatized or isolated. Also, Dr. Williams explained how state capacity isn’t
simply about the monetary inflow but the past decisions and investments that are taken.
With regards to urban governance, welfare delivery isn’t frictionless but requires
infrastructure, and commitment is needed to plan for the most marginalized and
excluded.
The session was concluded by a conclusory and thanking note by Dr. Rumi Aijaz where
he thanked Dr. Williams for sharing his findings and how it provided a great insight into
how cities were managed during the pandemic including its challenges and victories. At
last, a brief QnA session took place which posed questions on the resilience of the nation
during the pandemic and how India fared in comparison to other developing and
developed nations. With these extensive and fascinating discussions, the session
concluded.
Chapter 8
Urban Planning, Governance & Practice from an Administrator

View & Local Bodies – State / Central Governments Relation
and Policy Research Institute, IMPRI, New Delhi in the month of July 2023. An
informative and panel discussion on the topic “Urban Planning, Governance & Practice
from an Administrators View & Local Bodies – State / Central Governments Relation”
was held on July 12, 2023, by Mr Sameer Unhale Joint Commissioner, Department of
Municipal Administration, Government of Maharashtra; Urban Practitioner; Visiting Senior
Fellow, IMPRI.
On the fourth day of the event, the session commenced with an introduction by the Chair,
Dr Rumi Aijaz, who is a Senior Fellow and the Head of the Urban Policy Research
Initiative at ORF. The theme for the session was Economy, Finance, Infrastructure,
Practice and Built Environment. Dr Aijaz provided context for the discussion and
proceeded to introduce the first theme along with the speaker for the session, Mr Sameer
Unhale.
Mr. Sameer Unhale first began by stating that there is a need to overhaul and re-haul all
our basic conceptual understanding and processes as to how an urban area would be
evolving, and how it could be managed, administered, serviced and planned given the
challenges that we are facing.
He then proceeded to introduce the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act of
1966. This legislation specifically outlines the identity of the planning authority,
elucidating its distinct features such as its rights and obligations, financial mechanisms,
as well as the supervision and governance protocols exercised by the state administration
over subordinate bodies. A noteworthy challenge arises when multiple authorities
concurrently engage in planning activities within the same geographic precinct which
creates an issue of synchronizing.
Utilizing his firsthand experience, he leverages his direct involvement and navigates
through the phases of devising a plan. An underlying challenge in formulating the plan
revolves around deciding whether the public should be engaged in the initial stages of
land use planning or if their input should only be solicited after the plan has been drafted.
The domain of social and economic planning continues to trail behind, yet to catch up
adequately. He emphasizes that there is a need to transition from strict land use planning
and have a larger economic perspective to the vision that the city would be moving.
Furthermore, he delved into the topic of transfer of development rights (TDR) and how
it is used for creating affordable housing stock in multiple ways. He shared practical
experiences, shedding light on the challenges faced during the planning phase and the
subsequent impacts. Among these, the issue of illegal constructions emerged as a
prominent challenge.
Collectively, he offered insights into the methodology of plan formulation, key aspects of
the planning procedure, along the limitations and obstacles confronted when advancing
these blueprints. This segued into an engaging Q&A session where the audience
interacted with the speakers, posing insightful questions.
Dr. Rumi Aijaz offered his remarks on the presentation, highlighting how the attendees
gained valuable insights by listening to firsthand expertise from a practitioner’s
standpoint. Subsequently, he proceeded to present the second theme and introduced the
subsequent speaker- Dr Soumyadip Chattopadhyay.
Chapter 9
Strengthening the Financial Health of Indian Cities

Urban Planning Schemes & Initiatives
informative and panel discussion on the topic “Strengthening the Financial Health of
Indian Cities & Indian Urban Schemes & Initiatives” was held on July 12, 2023, by Dr
Soumyadip Chattopadhyay Associate Professor, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, Visiting Senior
Fellow, IMPRI.
Initially, Dr Soumyadip Chattopadhyay provided us with an overview of his upcoming

presentation, focusing on the ways by which Indian cities can enhance and fortify their
financial well-being.
Urban Health
He commenced by presenting macro statistics to demonstrate the weak condition of

municipal health. The proportion of municipal revenue to the GDP has remained steady
at approximately 1%. The contribution of self-generated revenue to the country’s GDP
remains around 0.43%. Smaller urban local bodies (ULBs) have exhibited inadequate
performance in terms of generating revenue. The issue of resource scarcity intensified as
ULBs were assigned additional duties and obligations.
He presented two potential policy approaches to tackle these issues:

● Increasing revenue from existing local taxes
● Strengthening the revenue-raising power of the ULBs by broadening the sources
of revenue base
He subsequently acquainted the audience with a Simple model of municipal taxation –

the Standard Bahl and Linn 1992 model. He then discussed basic problems with
municipal taxation in India, such as mismatches between revenue and obligations,
underutilization of available tax tools, and so forth.
The primary challenge lies in identifying and prioritizing opportunities that can yield
significant impact and are reasonably feasible. Criteria for choosing municipal taxes
include efficiency, equity, economy, transparency, and more. Property tax remains a
significant untapped reservoir of municipal revenue. He then outlined the principal
sectors requiring action in property tax reforms. Determining the tax rate was addressed,
covering challenges and potential policy strategies.
He also discussed a range of non-tax revenue mechanisms. He proceeded to elaborate on

the fundamental principles that policymakers should bear in mind when formulating
both tax and non-tax measures.
In conclusion, he provided a recap of the various methods through which municipalities

generate funds and highlighted potential possibilities for enhancing their financial well-
being. He emphasized the need for municipalities to reduce dependency on Central and
State governments while strengthening their own financial base.
Dr. Rumi recommended that the audience examine the municipal budgets of different
municipalities to gain insights into their funding sources. Dr Rumi moved on to introduce
the final speaker, Dr Akshaya K Sen and provided a brief insight into the chosen theme.
Chapter 10
An Overview of Housing Policies & Housing Finance in India
informative and panel discussion on the topic “An Overview of Housing Policies &
Housing Finance in India” was held on July 12, 2023, by Dr Akshaya K Sen, Joint General
Manager (Economics), Housing & Urban Development Corporation Ltd. (HUDCO).
Dr. Akshaya K Sen initiated his presentation by emphasizing the magnitude of the
housing demand arising from the continuously growing population, highlighting the
necessity for well-crafted housing policies to address this issue. He then outlined the
sequence of Indian housing policies over time.
Housing Policies in India
He proceeded to offer an in-depth understanding of the National Housing Policy of 1994,

including its objectives and goals. This was followed by a comprehensive overview of the
National Housing and Habitat Policy of 1998, including its overarching aim and primary
focus areas. The policy played a pivotal role in transitioning the government’s role from
being a provider to functioning as a facilitator via legal and regulatory reforms.
With the evolution in the housing sector, the need for a sector-specific policy became
evident. Thus, the National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy of 2007 was introduced.
Its foundational principle is “affordable housing for all,” with a specific emphasis on
marginalized sections of society, including SC, ST, and other minority groups. This policy
further deepened the government’s role as a facilitator and regulator in the realm of
housing. He proceeded to talk about Government initiatives for catalyzing the affordable
housing market. He delved into how various task forces, such as the Deepak Parekh
Committee in 2008 and the MoHUPA Task Force, differed in their definitions of
“affordable” housing.
He then highlighted different government programs, including the Jawaharlal Nehru

Urban Renewal Mission, Rajiv Awas Yojna, the Affordable Housing in Partnership
scheme, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna. Moreover, he discussed two models of the
Affordable Rental Housing Complex scheme.
The policy has adopted a “MORE” (Maximize, Optimize, Equalize, Reposition) approach
across 4 fundamental pillars to ensure that state and city governments promote initiatives
to address urban challenges. The Draft National Urban Rental Housing Policy of 2018
was formulated with the objective of establishing a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive
rental housing market in India. The policy presents three distinct categories of rental
housing options: Social rental housing, Need-based rental housing, and Market-driven
rental housing. Housing finance in India has undergone a transformation spanning from
the 1950s to the present day, particularly since 2010. Housing finance has become
institutionalized over time.
Within the subsection titled “Impact of Housing Policies and Programmes,” he

thoroughly examined the positive responses and limitations observed. He also
deliberated on the principal challenges faced within the housing sector. Concluding his
presentation, he underscored the primary concerns linked with housing policies and
posed an important question as to whether these reforms would yield the expected
outcomes.
In his closing comments, Dr Rumi Aijaz expressed his viewpoint, highlighting that
despite substantial efforts made on paper regarding policies, their effective
implementation on the ground remains insufficient. He emphasized the necessity for
enhancing economic conditions and creating employment opportunities to enable people
to afford housing.
This segued into an engaging Q&A session where the audience interacted with the
speakers, posing insightful questions. The event concluded with Dr. Rumi Aijaz
delivering a vote of thanks.
Chapter 11
Cities, Environment, Climate Change & Social Justice
Marking the fifth day of such a riveting one-month online certification training course on
Urban Policy and City Planning, an Online International Monsoon School Program
organized by the Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies (CHURS) at IMPRI
(Impact and Policy Research Institute), New Delhi was inaugurated by Mahek Agarwal,
a researcher at IMPRI, who welcomed the speakers and participants to the program with
an introduction to the distinguished panelists. The Chair for this session was Dr Rumi
Aijaz, Senior Fellow and Head, of Urban Policy Research Initiative, Observer Research
Foundation (ORF), New Delhi.
Mr Aijaz stated that we bear a tremendous deal of responsibility for shaping the
environment in which we live. Previously, there was less population but continued
economic expansion, which resulted in minimal carbon emissions. In today’s world,
every country’s desire to pursue economic growth is causing significant environmental
damage.
It is witnessed in several areas of the country’s economy, including transportation,

construction, and the industrial sector. The need of the hour is to resume those human
activities in a responsible manner that does not harm the environment. As a result, people
and organizations should work together to protect natural resources and what nature has
to give humanity. Human Settlements, Social Security, the Environment, and Welfare
were the topics of today’s session.
The first speaker for the day, is Mr Leo F. Saldanha, Founding Trustee and Coordinator, of
Environment Support Group (ESG), Bengaluru. Mr Saldanha began by thanking everyone
for hosting him and holding a workshop on the topic of Urban Policy and City Planning.
He focused on Cities, Environment, Climate Change, and Social Justice. He started by
giving us a map of a suburban Bangalore community and a map of Bangalore’s electronic
city, where the working class lives, and urged us to note the intricacies of structured life.
With the recent return of the Congress in Bangalore, they hope to revive and expand the
concept of “Brand Bangalore.” The phrase “brand” and “Bengaluru ” are popular among
the working class. While cities are planned and organized by three persons, the bulk of
the city’s population is excluded from the decision-making process.
As a result, the bulk of people live in huge human settlements. The lush and beautiful
nature has been ripped away in recent years to make way for settlements, while city
streets have become increasingly congested.
This is a major source of concern in the context of climate change. According to IISc
research conducted in 2012, Bangalore’s vegetation loss is as follows:
● In the last 40 years 1005% increase in paved surface

● 1973 => 68.27%
● 2012 => 25%
● Shivjinagar, Chikpet: 1 tree = 500 people.
● In 2012: 0.17 trees per person.
● Future => 33%, 1 tree per person.
● IDEAL: 8 trees per 1 person for a healthy respiratory system.
Mr Saldana’s paper “Screaming for Help” discusses the reason for Bengaluru’s floods and
narrows it down to caste and class differences, in addition to the typical economic,
structural, and political factors. Following the independence period, the feudal and
higher classes were intertwined into a common society, and they wanted to transform
society due to their desire for a luxurious lifestyle.
He stated that Neil Brenner, Peter Marcuse, and Margit Mayer’s, “Cities for People, Not
Profit: Critical Urban Theory and the Right to the City.” provides an excellent framework
for developing an urban metropolis, planning, and initiatives. Are today’s cities as
sufficient/efficient as cities with rights?
According to him, most of our cities have become very transactional, and this has
worsened since Prime Minister Narendra Modi began to pursue and promote the concept
of smart cities, which is based on the Jawaharlal Nehru National and Political Mission.
The majority of new infrastructure projects in India are aimed towards the country’s
gentrified class. He also stated that all of our cities have become about profit rather than
people. If farmlands and wetlands are converted into cities and huge settlements, the
character of society may be perceived as “problematic,”, particularly for the urban middle
and working class, and this has manifested itself in road rage.
Extreme weather occurrences such as floods, heatwaves, and COVID-19 erode social and
economic security. We’ve seen a series of disastrous occurrences, and people haven’t
recovered from demonetization; people in cities aren’t being helped by government
measures because of the way the environment is changing. In Northern India, no one
accepts responsibility for the flooding that states like Delhi are experiencing, nor for the
worrisome string of other calamities that occur.
The Constitutional promise
Article 39 of the Constitution of India:
“The State, shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing that the citizens, men, and
women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood; that the ownership and control
of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good;
that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means
of production to the common detriment”
Individuals and organizations conduct course corrections without commercial

motivation. individuals without resources battling for their rights because individuals
with riches don’t care and buy their way past everything. The following PiLs were
identified:
Important Principles Invoked by Judiciary:
● The right to Life includes the Right to Clean Environment and Livelihood.
● Polluter Pays Principle.
● Principle of Intergenerational Equity.
● The doctrine of Public Trust.
● Precautionary Principle Principle of Prior and Informed Consent.
● Principle of Ecocentrism.
Through PIL, the interpretation of the Doctrine of Public Trust can be known to the
public:
Interpretation of the Doctrine of Public Trust:
(1) the property subject to the trust must not only be used for a public purpose but it must
be held available for use by the general public;
(2) the property may not be sold, even for fair cash equivalent;
(3) the property must be maintained for particular types of
use.
(i) either traditional uses, or
(ii) some uses particular to that form of resources.
(Joseph L. Sax in “The Public Trust Doctrine in Natural Resource Law: Effective Judicial
Intervention”, Michigan Law Review, Vol.68 No.3 (Jan. 1970) PP 471-566.)
This was amplified through the Constitutional 74th Amendment (Nagarpalika) Act, 1992.
Constitutional 74th Amendment (Nagarpalika) Act, 1992.
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS:
• In many States, local bodies have become weak and ineffective account of a variety of
reasons, including the failure to hold regular elections, prolonged supersessions, and
inadequate devolution of powers and functions. As a result, Urban Local Bodies are
not able to perform effectively as vibrant democratic units of self-government.
• Having regard to these inadequacies, it is considered necessary that provisions
relating to +
• Urban Local Bodies are incorporated in the Constitution particularly for:
i. putting on a firmer footing the relationship between the State Government and the
Urban Local Bodies with respect to:
a. the functions and taxation powers; and
b. arrangements for revenue sharing;
ii. Ensuring regular conduct of elections;
iii. ensuring timely elections in the case of supersession; and Castes, Scheduled
Tribes, and women.
iv. providing adequate representation for the weaker sections like the Scheduled
Constitutional 74th Amendment (Nagarpalika) Act, 1992.
Accordingly, it is proposed to add a new part relating to the Urban Local Bodies in the
Constitution to provide for:
1. Constitution of three types of Municipalities:

(i) Nagar Panchayats for areas in transition from a rural area to an urban area;
(ii) Municipal Councils for smaller urban areas;
(iii) Municipal Corporations for larger urban areas.
2. fixed tenure of 5 years for the Municipality and re-election within six months of the
end of tenure. If a Municipality is dissolved before the expiration of its duration,
elections to be held within six months of its dissolution;
3. devolution by the State Legislature of powers and responsibilities upon the
Municipalities with respect to preparation of plans for economic development and
social justice, and for the implementation of development schemes as may be required
to enable them to function as institutions of self-government;
4. levy of taxes and duties by Municipalities, assigning of such taxes and duties to
Municipalities by State Governments, and making grants-in-aid by the State to the
Municipalities as may be provided in the State law;
5. a Finance Commission to review the finances of the Municipalities.
District Planning Committees, Article 243 ZD
Prepare Draft Development Plan for each District, keeping in mind:
1) Matters of common interest between the Panchayats and Municipalities include

spatial planning, sharing of water and other physical and natural resources, the
integrated development of infrastructure, and environmental conservation.
2) the extent and type of available resources whether financial or otherwise.
3) consult such institutions and organizations as the Governor may specify.
Constitutional 74th Amendment (Nagarpalika) Act, 1992 Ward Committees 243S.

Constitution and composition of Wards Committees.
1) There shall be constituted Wards Committees, consisting of one or more wards,

within the territorial area of a Municipality having a population of three lakhs or
more.
2) The Legislature of a State may, by law, make provisions with respect to
a. the composition and the territorial area of a Wards Committee;
b. the manner in which the seats in a Wards Committee shall be filled.
3) A member of a Municipality representing a ward within the territorial area of the
Wards Committee shall be a member of that Committee.
Mr Saldana ended his lecture by discussing the Governance of Commons approach. Plan
for the Future (urban space, market, social infrastructure, and employment
opportunities), the Use of community resources and intelligence, as well as community-
identified goals and objectives for inclusive change.
Chapter 12
Waste Management and Air Pollution
Our second speaker for the day, Dr Shyamala Mani, Senior Advisor, WASH and Waste
Management, CEH, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI); Former Professor, National
Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), New Delhi. She delivered a presentation on Waste
Management and Air Pollution and it was titled, Sustainable Solid Waste Management
and Preventing Pollution through Good Practices.
What in particular are Solid Waste and Municipal Solid Waste?
According to the MOEFCC, Gol’s Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, “solid waste”
refers to and includes solid or semi-solid domestic waste, sanitary waste, commercial
waste, institutional waste, catering and market waste, and other non-residential wastes,
street sweepings, silt removed or collected from surface drains, horticulture waste,
agriculture and dairy waste, treated bio-medical waste excluding industrial waste, bio-
medical waste and e-waste, battery waste, radioactive waste generated in the area under
the local authorities.
Except when generated in tiny amounts by homeowners, construction and demolition

trash is not included in municipal solid waste (MSW).
Waste Generation
According to MOEFCC, in 2016 waste statistics for India are as follows:

● 62 million tonnes of waste is generated annually (1.69L TPD), of this,
● 5.6 million tonnes is plastic waste,
● 0.17 million tonnes is biomedical waste,
● 7.90 million tonnes is hazardous waste,
● 0.15 million tonnes is e-waste.
Only around 75-80% of municipal garbage is collected, and only about 22-28% of it is
treated. However, after the introduction of SBM 1 and 2, both trash collection and
transportation in segregated streams have grown, with about 45-50% of garbage being
treated in most urban areas. By 2030, waste generation will have increased from 62
million tonnes to around 165 million tonnes.
In Indian cities, per capita, garbage generation ranges from 0.2 kg/person/day in tiny
towns and municipalities to 0.6 kg/person/day in big metropolitan cities and well-to-do
areas.
How are we impacted by unscientific waste management?
Mixed decaying trash attracts various types of germs and bacteria, providing a serious
health risk to individuals living near disposal sites. Pollution of the air, water, and soil,
as mixed trash decomposes, methane and other harmful gases are emitted, polluting the
air. Contaminated leachate pollutes subsurface water and soil.
GHG emissions and global warming, methane is formed as trash decomposes, and it is a
major contributor to global warming. Precious land and water resources are depleted as
dumping sites, having a negative influence on the surrounding living creatures.
What do dumping and burning lead to?
● Open dump sites lead to:

o Release of GreenHouse Gases: Methane & Carbon-dioxide.
o Soil & water pollution from the leachate.
o Attracts rodents, insects, birds, and flies, spreading diseases.
o Animals like cows, dogs, and birds ingest plastic and dying
● Open burning leads to:

o Release of deadly dioxins, furans, and heavy metals.
o Release of harmful gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxides, and Sulphur
dioxide.
o Residual ash causes eye and throat irritation and respiratory diseases.
The World Health Organisation has identified 22 diseases, including communicable

diseases such as Malaria, chest pain, diarrhea, and cholera, an increased risk of heart
disease, aggravated respiratory ailments such as asthma, rashes, nausea, or headaches,
nervous system, kidney, or liver damage, and reproductive system damage caused by
improper waste management.
Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Cities vs. SWM in Rural Areas
● In urban India, per capita, trash generation ranges between 0.21 and 0.5
kg/person/day.
● Per capita, trash output in rural areas is estimated to be 0.11 kg/person/day.
Most communities have some sort of door-to-door or point-to-point collecting system in

place, but processing facilities are inadequate. Most communities lack collecting and
processing infrastructure. Waste from dump sites is collected on a regular basis and
disposed of in a body of water or open area outside the village.
The increased population density in villages near metropolitan centers, along with an
increase in the sale of packaged products, has resulted in a significant increase in garbage
output in villages.
Dr Mani then went on to compare India to industrialized nations in terms of waste

composition at landfills and solid waste collection, as well as income levels in urban,
rural, and remote areas. She moved on to discuss global and regional solid waste
disposal, as well as the distribution of methane emissions in India in 2018.
How critical is it to reduce landfill methane emissions?
It is critical to reduce methane emissions since homes generate 11% of global methane
emissions and are now the third largest anthropogenic source of methane. India has
communicated to UNFCCC that,
“three of these have quantitative targets up to 2030 namely, cumulative

electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources to reach 40%; reduce
the emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 percent compared to 2005 levels

and creation of additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2
equivalent through additional forest and tree cover.”
Furthermore, as part of the Clean India Mission (SBM), India has made it essential for all
citizens to divide home garbage into three categories: wet (kitchen) waste, dry
(recyclable) waste, and domestic hazardous waste before delivering it to waste collectors.
It is also required for urban local governments to transfer them in separate collection
trucks to be handled separately in order to maximize recovery and minimize resource
waste.
Why do landfills produce methane? Are there any additional harmful gases emitted
by them?
Landfills generate methane, particularly in India, where wet kitchen (biodegradable)

trash from homes accounts for 60-62%, dry recyclables account for 16-22%, and domestic
hazardous waste and others, such as soil, account for 16-24%.
There is a demand for recyclables among garbage pickers and aggregators, the proportion
of biodegradables grows to 70-75%, the percentage of recyclables decreases to roughly
9%, and the percentage of DHW and soil climbs to 16-21% at the landfill site.
Using construction and demolition trash, RDF rejects to minimize odour from dumpsites
leading to anaerobic conditions on the landfill and methane production. Landfills have
been found to include nitrous oxide, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia, as well as CO2 and
black carbon in the event of a fire.
Do satellite-based approaches aid in the monitoring of waste emissions?
For estimating and quantifying landfill emissions, India currently employs the
Stoichiometric technique, Default Method (IPCC), First Order Decay Method (FOD),
Modified Triangular Method (MTM), in situ closed chamber technique, and Landfill Gas
Emission Method (Land GEM).
Techniques based on satellites might be effective for tracking and monitoring pollutants.
However, due to the high likelihood of artifacts interfering with accurate data generation
and other seasonal and non-seasonal constraints, the method of ground truthing, as well
as controlling for various confounders, will need to be established, particularly for

different parts of India and during different seasons and months, before it is adopted as
a standard method of estimating and calculating emissions from landfills.
How significant are landfill methane emissions in India?
According to one projection from 2022, India’s total methane emissions are in the 669
MMtCo2e range. About 10.3% comes from the waste sector, which includes emissions
from landfills, sewers, and wastewater treatment plants, among other things. It is
believed that 4% of this comes from landfills and dumpsites. It is relevant because landfill
methane emissions are connected with GDP and GSDP, and increased urbanization and
affluence are projected to increase landfill methane emissions in India.
How can we reduce landfill emissions? What are the problems in India?
The authorities must strictly execute the SWM Rules and any other EPA 1986 Rules
published and modified in 2016 and thereafter in all regions of India. Aside from
corruption, there is usually a shortage of money from families and other trash generators,
as well as a lack of budget and financing in local governments. A lack of land and local
population opposition to the establishment of these facilities. The institutional capability
for planning, monitoring, and enforcement is limited. The difficulties are mostly the
result of weak administration, poor implementation, a lack of sufficient infrastructure, a
lack of desire, a lack of conviction among citizens and implementing institutions, and
political intervention.
Incorrect policies
Many ULBS continue to enter into concession arrangements with Collection and
Transportation businesses to simply collect and dump garbage at rates ranging from
Rs.1800 to Rs.2000 per tonne, resulting in mixed waste being collected by these C&T
companies. Because of the foregoing policy, the collection and transportation of 10,000
tonnes of solid waste to landfills cost Rs.638,75,00,000 per year.
Transportation of separated collected trash in distinct streams to processing plants that

will turn them into products while reducing contamination (wet waste by DHW, dry
recyclables by Wet waste, and all waste by sanitary waste) and ensuring maximum
recovery is required for ULBS. CO2 Emissions averted by not transporting 1 tonne MSW
= 721.4 kg/year.
Global Plastic Pollution and India
According to figures published in February 2023, worldwide plastic output is predicted

to reach 390.7 million tonnes per year, with India producing 25 million tonnes per year,
accounting for 6.4% of global production.
• Globally, the packaging industry consumes 42% of the total plastics produced, while
the construction sector consumes 17%.
• Whereas in India, the packaging sector consumes 35% and the building sector
consumes 23%.
• Bioplastic manufacturing accounts for 1% of the 300 million tonnes of conventional
plastics produced each year.
Plastic Pollution Concerns:
• 79% of all plastics manufactured in the world end up in the environment as garbage.
• Only 9% of the world’s total plastic garbage is recycled.
• According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report (2018-19), India
generates 3.3 million metric tonnes of plastic garbage every year.
• Richer states, such as Goa and Delhi, generate up to 60 and 37 grams per inhabitant
every day, respectively.
Citizens’ Behaviour and Plastic Waste Rules
Citizens rely on plastics for single-use items such as carry bags and packaging such as
water bottles for convenience, with little regard for the environment or public health.
• The common argument is that if plastics are dangerous to the environment and health,
the government should ban them and close the factories that make them.
• Since 1999, the Indian government has enacted regulations under the EPA 1986 to
restrict the use of recycled materials in food and beverage packaging.
• The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2011, 2016, raised the thickness of plastic carry
bags from 20 microns to 50, 75, and now 120 microns without prohibiting the use of
any type of plastic.
Harmful effects of plastics
• Styrofoam or Polystyrene, PVC or Poly Vinyl Chloride, PUR or Polyurethane, and

various thermoset plastics such as melamine, as well as polymers in e-waste, are
particularly toxic.
• Chemicals and additives used in plastics manufacturing and remanufacturing are
easily freed during dismantling, thermal, and chemical operations.
• Incineration releases chemicals into the body, where they enter the food chain and
cause bioaccumulation, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis.
Climate Change and Plastics
• Plastics enhance the carbon footprint by generating and accumulating microplastics

in terrestrial and marine habitats.
• Governments all around the globe must recognize that the plastic problem is more
than just a matter of legislation and voluntary action because it is impacting human
health and the environment at such a rapid pace that it threatens the human species'
survival.
• It is a matter of behavior changes to return to reusables and environmentally friendly
materials.
E-waste
According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2020 Report 2019:
● The world generated 53.6 Mt of e-waste; 7.3 kg per capita.

o 82.6% was most likely not formally collected and not managed in an
environmentally sound manner.
o Most of the e-waste was generated in Asia: 24.9 Mt.
o Per capita generation is highest for Europe at 16.2 kg Europe also has the
highest documented formal e-waste collection and recycling rate: 42.5%
● Top 3 E-waste generators:

o China 10.13 million tonnes (7.2kg per capita).
o USA 6.92 million tonnes (21kg per capita).
o India 3.23 million tonnes (2.4kg per capita).
Dr Mani ended her lecture by discussing the Interpretation of Air Quality Monitoring
and its Implications.
Comparing two waste storage and sorting locations, one in a Dhalao, which is smaller in
size and has virtually no adequate natural or electromechanical ventilation, and the other
in an MRF, which is larger and has both natural and electromechanical ventilation
equipment.
Management of a residential area in South Delhi where ambient PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels
are well under the permitted AQI limits. The air quality in the smaller, poorly ventilated
waste storage and sorting facility is 25-50% worse than in the larger, more ventilated
MRF.
Our findings show that ventilation is a significant design consideration. However, the
efficiency and amount of ventilation necessary for various forms of dhalaos must be
investigated.
Chapter 13
Role of Communities & Civil Society in

Urban Planning & Development
Impact and Policy Research Institute, IMPRI, New Delhi in July 2023. An informative
panel discussion on the topic“Role of Communities & Civil Society in Urban Planning
and Development” was held on July 19, 2023, by Ms. Vanessa Peter, Founder, Information
and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC), Chennai.
Ms Peter shared insights on two broad topics- “Existing Challenges in Community

Participation” and “Role of Activists and Civil Societies to Enhance the Participation of
communities”
Existing Challenges in Community Participation
Ms Peter begins by stressing the need for community-led initiatives instead of just
community participation. Today cities are eventually evolving for the haves and have-
nots but the perspectives of the poor in policymaking are hardly heard. There is an
absence of participatory, community-centric processes facilitated to highlight their issues
and suggestions. She emphasized the need for community-led initiatives because the
participation of vulnerable communities, who are often left out, is crucial for creating
inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities. She shared her experience of being part of
the third master plan for Chennai when a person from the disability rights alliance put
forth that the websites cannot be accessed by visually impaired persons.
She also mentioned that only a few selected civil society groups participate in policy
decisions. This biased process where certain players have the advantage of having the
draft even before the consultations take place and some sections do not receive it even
after the consultation is a major challenge to community participation. Secondly, most of
the policy documents are available on web portals and in English which makes it
inaccessible to many communities. She mentioned that NGOs like the IRCDUC had to do
a lot of advocacies to change the medium of information to their local language.
Class divide among the attendees of the meetings is a major impediment to community
participation, for instance, the RWA from affluent sections attend the meetings whereas
the vulnerable communities are often not represented. She also mentioned that NGOs
might highlight community issues but this does not equate community’s own
involvement.
She further talked about the key principles of community-led initiatives:
• Recognition of communities and civil society groups as key stakeholders and

recognizing diversity and vulnerabilities.
• Specific participatory processes should be designed with community-based groups.
• Participation of children should not be overlooked – Right to Participation to be
upheld (Example: The Bala Nagara Sabhas is not recognized by Tamil Nadu State
Policy for Children)
• Participation should be Community-led in all stages of design, implementation,
feedback, and evaluation.
Role of Activists and Civil Societies to Enhance the Participation of Communities
Consultations are often too technical and very difficult to envision. Moreover,
communities face difficulty in writing extensive feedback. NGOs play a crucial role in
helping them to frame their feedback and send it to the government. Thus, it becomes
imperative for NGOs to conduct parallel processes as they provide safe spaces for
vulnerable communities to voice out their opinions when mainstream processes are
restrictive. Such parallel processes are also a demonstration to the government on how
consultative processes should be conducted for communities.
She mentioned that some of the suggestions from the communities meaningfully
contribute to policymaking. Citing the example of Chennai master plan consultations, she
explained that people are able to map and prioritize the facilities they want in their city
like hospitals, maternity care, market spaces, street lights, green spacing, and rainwater
harvesting but no resettlement in the slums.
She concluded by saying that we cannot sideline people’s participation in urban planning
as they also have visions and aspirations for their cities and the right to voice them. The
process should not be tokenistic or just for the sake of it, but it should uphold the
principles of participation to ensure that communities have social mobility.
Dr Rumi Aijaz thanked Ms Peter for her enlightening and thought-provoking insights.
He reiterated the sad reality of community participation despite the rules and laws in
place.
This was followed by a question-and-answer session which involved a discussion around

the politics of representation within a community and the need to conduct parallel
processes to tackle it, and steps to address the financial sustainability of community-
based initiatives by setting up community resource centers which are linked within
existing government schemes. Ms Peter also highlighted that the starting point of these
initiatives is very crucial because when communities see the meaningful impact brought
by their intervention, they take up the onus of working towards issues affecting them
combined with communities gaining more confidence and better negotiation skills and
thus there is no turning back.
Chapter 14
Migration and Right to City
and Policy Research Institute, IMPRI, New Delhi in July 2023. An informative panel
discussion on the topic “Migration and Rights to City” was held on July 19, 2023, by Prof R
B Bhagat, Former Professor and Head, of the Department of Migration & Urban Studies,
International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai.
The session was set about with welcoming remarks by the chair of the session, Dr Rumi
Aijaz. He conveyed about the session’s topics that, when we try to understand a country’s
demography, migration plays an important role. Different types of migration include
seasonal, daily, or long-term migration. Moreover, for a planner who is responsible for
guiding the development of settlements, these movements are essential for information.
Migration is also a significant indicator of population growth. However, migration data
is complex and is often unreached or delayed by planners.
Economics and Urbanization
Prof R B Bhagat introduced his session and explained the significance of the Right to City.
He said that as global citizens we are living in urban societies and economies. In such a
scenario, the idea that is unfolding is urbanization which is not critically analyzed. This
includes the transformation of spaces and places.
Additionally, we have a concentration of economic activities in such hubs which further

links to a concentration of population. Both of the concentrations lead to a bigger size of
spaces, helping the economies to grow and flourish. He also mentioned some common
economic activities that take place like production, cost-benefit, etc. To add to his
argument, he said that around 65% of digital growth in GDP comes from urban areas in
India.
He also emphasized how urbanization does not only create economic activities and
growth but also leads to the concentration of wealth.
This adversely leads to inequalities. Especially, when people move from rural areas to
urban ones, we see a paradigm shift in activities. He also explained different kinds of
urbanization like sustainable, paradigm, thinking inclusive, etc.
Moreover, he told how cities and civilizations have emerged whenever the urbanization
process has taken place. He quoted the example of the Indus and Magadh civilization.
Moreover, such civilizations do not only focus on economic factors but also involve social
and political aspects. A pertinent question he raised was the effect of urbanization post-
Industrial Revolution and in the past century.
Right to City
The Right to City was given by Henri Lefebvre, a French Sociologist. He wrote a paper on
Right to City in 1968 when students were uprising in France. This uprising was joined by
many working-class people and different strata of people. The right question is if we have
the right to make and remake our cities. It develops a relationship between people and
place. This relationship helps us to know who gets what and what is enough.
It is an urban imagination in other words. Before major revolutions, people considered

cities as a piece of art and creativity. But when cities got commodified, people started
settling in, wealth distribution occurred, and economic activities started taking place.
Wealth and environment in such cases must be looked at as a repository.
Focusing on commodification, he explained how it has led to an increase in inequalities.

The urge of capitalists to accumulate and prosper wealth in the name of urbanization has
also led to the exploitation of natural resources like land and water. Forest degradation,
groundwater levels going down, etc. were discussed in detail. He also expressed how the
Right to City should not mean people can re-enter cities, it is there to restore people and
should be used as a collective right as opposed to an individual one.
Further, the right has been talked about through an article in 2008 by David Harvey. It is
an appreciable critique on how to raise people’s voices, and how to create and raise
awareness through participation and democratization of the same. He also said this right
actually subsumes all the other rights including Civic, Political, and Social rights. It is a
way of uniting people in turn.
Ways to Promote Right to City
• Local democracy and Urban democracy

• Expert-driven ideas
• Inclusion
Migration and Urbanization
The speaker said that migration and urbanization go hand in hand. One important point
is that there is actually no city that has developed without migration. All metropolitan
and developed cities are based on migration. Migration also highlights diversity and
nativism. All in all, it is an essential key to urbanization.
After the enlightening session, Dr. Rumi Aijaz presented his remarks. He expressed how
it was informative and interesting. He explained that the session helped the audience to
understand the kind of urbanization India is witnessing. Effects of urbanization were
discussed in detail which actually show both the good and the bad. The rights of migrants
were also highlighted. Following his remarks, questions were raised. The questions
focused on the distinction between urban place and space, the post-COVID-19 effect on
migration, the right to movement and amendments, rural development, etc. After an
interactive question-answer session, the guest was thanked for the lecture and the session
moved ahead to the next speaker.
Chapter 15
Inclusionary Urbanisation in India
Impact and Policy Research Institute, IMPRI, New Delhi in July 2023. An informative
panel discussion on the topic“Inclusive Urbanization in India” was held on July 19, 2023,
by Prof Debolina Kundu, Professor, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), New Delhi.
The session was set about with welcoming remarks by the chair of the session, Dr Rumi
Aijaz. He explained how several other categories excluding migration exist in the case of
cities and their development. He also talked about informal and peri-urban areas that
face issues that are not widely addressed. Moreover, women in these areas face exclusion.
Another category that was included was the differently abled people who have special
needs. All in all, he said that even though urbanization is occurring at a fast pace, not
everybody is being taken together. It can be called an inequitable kind of urbanization,
which needs to be corrected soon.
Prof Debolina Kundu then took over and started her presentation by giving a brief outline
of her talk. She said that she would talk about:
• Context setting: State of Urbanization
• Status of Children, Adolescents, Divyangs and Women
• Status of Urban Poor and Slums
• Policy and Recommendations
Starting she talked about a New Urban Agenda which says “Leave No One Behind”
UN-HABITAT. This would be achieved by ending poverty in all its forms and
dimensions, including the eradication of extreme poverty, by ensuring equal rights and
opportunities, socioeconomic, and cultural diversity, and integration in urban space, by
enhancing livability, education, food security and nutrition, health and well-being, by
promoting safety and eliminating discrimination and all forms of violence, by ensuring
public participation providing safe and equal access for all, and by providing equal access
for all to physical and social infrastructure and basic services and adequate and
affordable housing.
Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas

Sabka Vishwas Sabka Prayas
She also touched upon India’s Accelerating Urban Growth Trajectory. She said how we
are doing better in this decade as compared to the past decade in terms of urban
population. While going through the statistics she explained how there are different
levels of urbanization, and the economy sees some amount of hidden urbanization as
well.
Migration and Urbanization
Moving on she also talked about how the talk about rural-urban migration is a mere
myth. While she presented relevant data about the same, she presented relevant
arguments. Until 2011, rural-rural migration had more than 50% share of total internal
migration in the country.
Since 1981, the share of rural-urban migration to total internal migration remained low
and stagnant. This is because large urban centers have become exclusionary to poor rural
migrants. Between 2001 and 2011, the share of urban-urban migrants to total internal
migrants increased sharply, indicating a selective migration process. Natural increase
was a prominent component of urban growth in India but over time the share has
declined with a corresponding increase in Net Reclassification from Rural to Urban
including jurisdictional changes and outgrowths.
Moving on she discussed how India is seeing a higher urban footprint owing to
development and urbanization. She focused on the term Peripheralization. She then said
that the share of the population is increasing outside municipal boundaries in both
metros and non-metros. 11 metropolitan cities (out of 52) have within their municipal
limits less than 50 per cent of the total city population. Availability of basic services
declines with distance from the core city. This would in turn affect the demography of
the country. Throwing light upon the same she explained the expected demographic
dividend from 2030-40.
Inclusive of Children
Adding on she talked about the children in Urban India.
• 377 million Urban Population (31%)

• 135.5 million children (36%) in the 0-18 age group
• 65.4 million (17.4%) people in Slums
• 36.5 million children (9.7%) in 0-5-years age group
• 26.36 million (6.99%) children in 6–9-year age group
• 23.4 million children (0-18 age group) in Slums
• 72.5 million (19.23%) adolescents in the 10–19-year age-group
She then talked about the issues of concern for inclusion for children. The under-5
mortality rate is twice the SDG target of 25 per 1,000 live births. Additionally, every fifth
child born in urban poor households reports low birth weight. Around 12% of children
(6-17 years) do not attend school – 3/4th poor. 2 in every 100 children (6-17 years) are
working. 3 in every 4 working children are poor. Crime rate against children increased
from 6 to 33 per 100,000 during 2009- 2019.
Moreover, the pandemic pushed many households into poverty with adverse impacts on
health & nutrition and increased child labour, dropout rate, crime, and the digital divide.
There is a continuous struggle between ‘Urban Advantage’ vs. ‘Urban Penalty’.
Moving on she discussed the results of her study with UNICEF on “Children and
Adolescents in Urban India: Scale and Nature of Deprivation.” Secondary data was used and
indicators like sanitation, employment, health, education, etc. were taken into
consideration The results showed a focus on Urban at all possible levels of
disaggregation.
It analyzed the macro (Rural-Urban), regional (state-level-urban-only UNICEF

intervention states), and city-level trends and patterns in the status of children and
adolescents in terms of their health, nutritional intake, WASH, education, employment,
violence, and crime based on unit level data analysis. It also analyzed the differential
dynamics among poor and non-poor children and slum and non-slum. Results also
examined the determining factors and associations.
Some limitations that were faced included inadequate sample size at disaggregated
levels. Also, absence of uniform and standardized data especially across all age groups.
Moreover, each secondary data source is based on a different time period with varying
levels of disaggregation. There was an absence of city-level data (8 cities only) and
Changing definitions over time.
Children’s health indicators and their survival, mortality, and malnutrition rates were
discussed in detail. She also focused on Child mortality and SDGs.
She said that health, nutrition, and WASH are highly interrelated phenomena. The
inadequate access to water, sanitation, and hygiene compounded with childhood
malnutrition form critical impediments to the good health and well-being of children.
• NMR among the urban poor is twice higher than the SDG target of 3.2 of 12 per
thousand live births.
• The current U5MR among urban poor is almost double the SDG target of 25 per 1,000
live births. Considering the pace of decline in U5MR in the past decade it is unlikely
that SDG-3.2 could be attained among the urban poor by 2030.
Adding on about the different states of the country, she said that the urban poor in Uttar
Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh have 2.5 times higher U5MR compared to the SDG
target. IMR came down for all groups but sharply for the urban poor. Urban India has
attained the target of IMR of 28 (National Health Policy 2017) but urban poor and slums
are lagging. The gender gap persists in U5MR among the urban poor (male mortality is
higher than females).
She then focused on maternal health, overweight among adolescents in Urban India, and
malnutrition in women. She then presented some findings on the social development of
women having a positive impact.
• Findings from the regression exercise demonstrate that an increase in immunization,

mean age at marriage, and mean years of female schooling reduce urban IMR.
• Poverty, higher fertility, and bias in fertility behavior led to higher infant deaths but
the use of modern contraceptives reduces infant deaths.
• Analysis shows that with a unit increase in the use of modern contraception, there
would be a corresponding 0.27-unit decline in the IMR.
• For one unit increase in the level of females’ mean years of schooling, there would be
a 4.8-unit decline in the level of IMR. Therefore, one can conclude that the social
development of women has a positive impact.
She also talked about water sanitation and hygiene and how it can be improved. Access
to water and Hygiene practices were also discussed.
Then she also discussed children's education focusing on dropout rates, GER (Gross
Enrolment Ratio), and Attendance rates. Child Protection was also discussed. The focus
was then on employment among children and adolescents.
• In 2017-18, 5.6 million children and young adolescents (5-17 years) were economically
active among whom 1.2 million were located in urban areas.
• The number of children and adolescents 5-17 years) declined from 2.7
million in 2011-12 to 1.2 million in 2017-18
• The Work Participation Rate of this age group is 1.8%
• 75% of working children and adolescents in urban areas are poor.
• The work participation rate among urban poor children and adolescents is two times
higher than that of non-poor children and adolescents.
• 90 per cent of working children and adolescents are employed in the informal sector.
• 55% of child workers (5-14 years) are employed in hazardous industries.
• A large concentration of working children and adolescents are found in retail trade
(20%), manufacturing of textile products and apparel (15%), construction (10%),
restaurants and food stalls (5%).
• 5.9% of children and adolescents in urban India are categorized as
‘nowhere’, i.e., neither studying nor working.
• Every second circular/seasonal migrant child is engaged in work.
Some Policy Recommendations on health, nutrition, and washing were given. An

increased budgetary provision to strengthen all sectors but public health in particular.
There is the provisioning of granular data for making a comprehensive assessment of
programs. Also, it promotes greater outreach of knowledge on hygiene practices among
the poor. The behavioural changes open defecation and handwashing practices). Also,
promote integrated effort among various stakeholders involved in improving WASH in
the country. There can be small towns and census towns that need infrastructural
investment in WASH.
Further, policy recommendations on education were also given. There is a need to shift
the objective from ‘universalization of enrolment’ to ‘universalization of attendance’.
Also extending the coverage of the Right to Education Act, 2009 from primary to
secondary and higher-secondary education. While in general, ‘supply-side constraints’
have been reduced with increased access to schools, there is a need to make the teaching-
learning process more “learner-centric” to reduce failure and drop-outs.
We need to deploy teachers according to the strengths of students and establish a

transparent and robust system for teacher recruitment. Also, it is necessary to build
teaching capacity for socio-emotional learning to promote sustainable development. The
focus should be on improving digital infrastructure and training to enhance digital
literacy and online learning. Also, to develop a standard operating protocol for online
learning, and create the proper infrastructure.
Moreover, restructuring the curriculum to avoid long-term interruption in academic

activities. There is a need to adopt open-source digital learning solutions and Learning
Management. Software to facilitate teachers to conduct online teaching can also be
developed. DIKSHA platform, which is present in all states, can be further strengthened
to ensure accessibility of learning to students. Remedial classes for needy students after
regular class hours should be arranged as also suggested. Some general
recommendations were suggested, and she concluded her talk.
Thereafter, Dr Rumi Aijaz presented his remarks. It was followed by an interactive

question-answer session. The guest was thanked for the lecture and the session moved
ahead to the next speaker.
Chapter 16
Social Security in Indian Cities

Employment, Livelihoods, Health & Social Protection
Our last speaker for the fifth day, Mr Sandeep Chachra, Executive Director, ActionAid
Association, India, and Ex Co-Chair, World Urban Campaign, UN-HABITAT; Advisor, IMPRI.
Mr Chachra expressed his gratitude to IMPRI for having him today and presenting on
Social Security, Employment, and Livelihoods in Indian Cities.
The Development of Social Security
He started his presentation by sharing the evolution of Social Security. While social
welfare programs have existed throughout history, contemporary social security may be
traced back to the early days of capitalism around the end of the 16th century.
The first systematic formulation of such notions was the English Poor Law (1601). It was
a tax-funded assistance program that discriminated between the ‘deserving’ and
‘undeserving’ poor. It was locally regulated by the community through the building of
alms homes to lodge individuals in need of such relief measures. Economic security was
widely regarded as a concern affecting just the poor. The English Poor Laws, which were
weakly enforced but frequently employed in the 17th and 18th centuries, may be
considered an early social aid effort.
Chancellor Otto von Bismarck developed the world’s first social insurance plan in the
shape of the Sickness Insurance Law (1883). This, too, was conceived not of
humanitarianism, but of political ambition – to stop the rise of socialism and prevent a
revolution by offering some relief measures to disgruntled workers. It was an obligatory
contribution program to which both the employer and the employee contributed in order
to offer medical treatment and monetary compensation to employees in selected
industries during illnesses.
However, the peak of social security as a concept occurred during World War II. Not only
did the Beveridge Committee (1942) emerge as the first conception of social security, but
there were also other historic announcements in the history of human rights.
As a result, unlike the English Poor Law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR) (1948) identified an individual’s entitlement to social security (Article 22) as a
basic human right rather than a handout. Articles 22-27 of the UDHR defended the right
to a decent quality of life and demanded greater facilities and care for the physically
impaired, as well as mothers and children. This signified a crystallization of a rights-
based approach to social security in the mid-twentieth century.
Individual rights were recognized in the International Covenant of Economic, Social, and
Cultural Rights (1966), which included employment rights, the right to health, the right
to an appropriate quality of life, and the right to an adequate standard of life.
Nevertheless, there has been a narrowing of the concept of social security during the last
30 years or more. This is especially true now that the ILO has shifted its focus from social
security to social protection, finally recommending social protection standards in 2012.
The present aim of the social security system is to provide, at least, that everyone in need
has access to needed healthcare and basic income stability throughout their lives. As a
result, the present international order has tended to focus mainly on the necessity of
income security, with little cash transfer ‘guarantees’ in the commercialization of human
needs. In this view, the state’s responsibility to provide universal, high-quality public
services in health, education, and other important human services has been abandoned
in favor of insurance-driven systems.
Furthermore, the emphasis has been on focusing on basic safeguards for the poorest and
most disadvantaged individuals rather than on the social, cultural, and economic rights
of all citizens as intended in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
Defining Social Security
Upon defining ‘social security’, Mr. Chachra shared one of the earliest definitions of social
security presented in the Beveridge Committee report (1942). It defined social security as
“freedom from fear and wants,” but it was limited to hospital and rehabilitation services,
as well as the provision of child allowances.
In 1984, the ILO defined social security as, ‘the protection that a society provides to
individuals and households through a series of public measures against the economic and
social distress that otherwise would cause the stoppage or substantial reduction of
earnings resulting from sickness, maternity, employment injury, invalidity, and death;
the provision of medical care; and the provision of subsidies for families with children’.
The International Labour Organization’s Social Security (Minimum Standards)

Convention (No. 102) divides social security systems into nine standard branches:
i. healthcare,
ii. sickness,
iii. old age,
iv. unemployment,
v. employment injury,
vi. family and child support,
vii. maternity,
viii. disability, and
ix. survivors and orphans.
However, the ILO’s conceptualization of social security has been attacked for being
overly restricted and based solely on the experiences of the global north, failing to
account for disparities between the north and south.
For starters, structural factors in the global south frequently restrict the penetration of
social security systems such as unemployment benefits, pension systems, and maternity
benefits that are common in developed nations. Because of the undeveloped capital and
insurance markets, the predominance of informality, the high percentage of agricultural
work, and self-employment, a large portion of the population is excluded from the scope
of social security systems.
Second, poverty, wealth, and income disparities, as well as limited access to productive
assets, markets, and institutional assistance, render the poor in these nations more
sensitive to shocks throughout their lives. Due to the significant socio-economic demands
of emerging nations, as opposed to those of wealthy countries, the traditional notion of
social security systems has been widely judged inadequate.
Defining Employment and Livelihood
The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) considers a person ’employed’ in the
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and other employment and unemployment-related
surveys using the definition of ’employment’ provided by the 19th International
Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) 2013 of the International Labour Organisation
(ILO). As per that definition, “Persons who were engaged in any economic activity or
who, despite their attachment to economic activity, abstained themselves from work for
the reason of illness, injury or other physical disability, bad weather, festivals, social or
religious functions or other contingencies necessitating temporary absence from work,
constituted workers (or employed). Unpaid household members who assisted in the
operation of economic activity in the household farm or non-farm activities were also
considered as workers.”
“A person is considered working (or employed) if he/she worked for at least one hour on
at least one day during the 7 days preceding the date of survey or if he/she had worked
for at least 1 hour on at least one day during the 7 days preceding the date of the survey
but did not do the work”.
Livelihood as defined by the ILO is far more encompassing than employment.
“A livelihood refers to capabilities, material and social resources, and activities required
for a means of living. It can be a set of activities and strategies pursued by household
members, using their various assets (physical, natural, human, social, financial) in order
to make a living. Livelihoods usually involve the employment of household labor and
the use of other household assets, if any, in order to live on the proceeds. For the large
majority of people across all countries, the most important livelihood asset is primarily
their own labor, followed by other household assets (physical, financial, social and
natural)”
Constitutional Provisions
He further elaborated on the constitutional and legal promises of socio-economic rights.

The Indian Constitution has all of the factors that obligate the state to strive towards the
realization of socio-economic rights. Human trafficking and child work in dangerous
sectors are prohibited under the Fundamental Rights chapter, as is the Freedom to
Organise Groups and Unions and the Right of Children to an education.
The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution provide, “The State shall,
within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for
securing the right to work, to education and public assistance, in cases of unemployment,
old age, sickness, and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want”.
Although India has not ratified the International Labour Organization’s Social Security
(Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), it has well-established social security
systems that provide varying degrees of coverage in several of the Convention’s nine
branches, which primarily aim to cover formal workers in the organized sector, which
includes private firms/establishments of a certain size or public sector establishments of
any size.
Legal Provisions
India also offers a myriad of social protection systems, both at the national and state
levels, that cater to various sectors of the population. These plans address a wide range
of issues, including basic education and health, job development and promotion,
workers’ social security, food and nutrition security, and social pensions.
The Code on Social Security 2020 is legislation that amends and consolidates pre-existing
social security regulations with the purpose of extending social security to all employees
and workers in all industries, whether organized or unorganized.
The Code of Conduct The Employees’ Compensation Act of 1923, as amended by the
Employees’ State Insurance Act of 1913. Employees’ Provident Funds and Other
Provisions Act of 1952, The Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Vacancy Notification)
Act of 1959, the Maternity Benefit Act of 1962 The 1972 Pairment of Gratuity Act, The
Workers’ Welfare Fund Act of 1982 The Building and Other Construction Workers
(Employment and Conditions of Service Regulation Act of 1996) Social Security Act for
Unorganised Workers of 2008.
The Employees’ State Insurance Act of 1948 applies to companies and businesses with
ten or more employees and offers comprehensive medical treatment to employees and
their families, as well as monetary benefits during sickness and maternity, and monthly
payments in the event of death or disability.
The Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, applies to
particular designated factories and businesses with 20 or more employees and assures
terminal benefits to provident fund, superannuation pension, and family pension in the
event of death while on the job.
The Maternity Benefit Act of 1961, as revised in 2017, allows for up to 26 weeks of paid
maternity leave for female employees. It also requires crèche facilities for any businesses
with 50 or more employees.
Important Social Security Schemes and their Provisions
He then proceeded to share some important social security schemes and their provisions.
As stipulated by the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, the Public Distribution
System strives to provide food security by delivering key staples like pulses, wheat, rice,
and so on at reduced rates to low-income families.
Every priority family member is entitled to 5 kilograms of food grain per person per
month at a discounted price set by the state government. Antyodaya Anna Yojna families
would be entitled to 35 kgs of food grain per family per month at a discounted price set
by the state government.
The ground-breaking NFSA 2013, which made subsidized food grains a legal right,
mandates coverage for up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban
population. Based on this, the overall coverage, as stipulated by the Act, is 67% of the
country’s population, or more than 80 crore people.
Nutritional Support for Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers – Every pregnant
woman and lactating mother shall be entitled to free meals during pregnancy and six
months after childbirth through the local anganwadi, in order to meet the nutritional
standard as specified in schedule II of the NFSA 2013, in such installments as specified
by the state governments.
Nutritional Support to Children – Every child up to the age of fourteen years shall have
the following entitlement to meet their nutritional requirements: for children aged 6
months to 6 years, a free age-appropriate meal through the local Anganwadi to meet the
nutritional standard specified in Schedule II of the NFSA 2013; for children aged 6 to 14
years or up to class VIII, one free mid-day meal shall be provided every day except on
school holidays by local bodies, government schools and government-aided schools.
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), a flagship Mission of the
Government of India, was started in June 2015 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs (MOHUA). By 2022, the Mission will have provided a pucca home to all eligible
urban households in the Economically Weaker Sections/Low-Income Group and Middle
Income Group categories, including slum residents.
Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCS) are a sub-scheme of the Pradhan Mantri
Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs. This will make it easier for urban migrants and the disadvantaged in the
industrial sector as well as the non-formal urban economy to find respectable, cheap
rental homes near to their employment.
Under this Mission, PMAY (U) has made it necessary for the female head of the
household to be the owner or co-owner of the house. 118.9 lakh dwellings have been
sanctioned and 112.22 lakh houses have been built under the project to date. The Building
and Other Construction Employees (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of
Service) Act of 1996 establishes safety, health, and welfare standards for construction
employees.
Every building and other construction worker who has reached the age of 18 but has not
yet reached the age of 60 and has worked more than 90 days in any building or other
construction work in the previous 12 months and is not a member of any other welfare
fund is eligible for registration as a beneficiary.
The State Governments levy and collect a fee of 1% of the cost of construction under the
Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Access Act of 1996. The cess money
is used by the states to provide essential social security provisions through their
individual State Buildings and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Boards established
under the BOCW Act.
The Government of India launched the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban
Livelihood Mission to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households by
enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment
opportunities, resulting in an appreciable improvement in their livelihoods on a
sustainable basis, by building strong grassroots level institutions of the poor.
The project intends to provide urban homeless shelters equipped with critical services in
stages. Furthermore, the mission tackles urban street vendors’ livelihood problems by
providing access to proper locations, institutional financing, social security, and skills for
urban street vendors to leverage rising market possibilities.
The mission also plans to establish strong rights-based links with other programs that
address the right of the urban homeless to food, healthcare, education, and other
necessities, as well as to ensure access for homeless populations to various entitlements,
such as social security, pensions, PDS, ICDS, drinking water, sanitation, financial
inclusion, school admission, and so on, as well as to affordable housing.
The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector has grown to be a significant
contributor to the country’s socioeconomic growth. The Union allocation 2023 includes
an estimated allocation of INR 22,140 crores for the MSME sector, a 42% increase over
prior years. This funding will be used to execute different plans to provide accessible and
inexpensive loans, technological advancements, and infrastructure development.
The Union Ministry of MSME operates a number of initiatives aimed at providing credit
and financial aid, skill development training, infrastructure development, marketing
help, technological and quality improvements, and other services.
The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Credit Guarantee

Trust Fund for MSES (CGTMSE), Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programmes
(ESDP), Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries Scheme (SFURTI), and Micro
and Small Enterprise Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) are all important
schemes.
The NREGS program’s relative effectiveness as a relatively successful policy for

impoverished rural households to fall back on during the COVID-19 epidemic has
prompted numerous states, including Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tamil
Nadu, and Rajasthan, to launch their own urban job guarantee plans. Kerala has had a
comparable program called the Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme in
place since 2010.
These initiatives give 100-120 days of paid employment to residents of their respective
states’ metropolitan districts. While each state has a different list of jobs available under
such programs, the majority of jobs include maintenance of urban commons, public
buildings, and sanitation-related tasks.
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension System (IGNOAPS): This is a non-contributory
old-age pension system for people over the age of 60 who are poor.
Pradhan Mantri Shram is a Pradhan Mantri Shram, PM-SYM Yogi Maan-dhan: It is a

voluntary contributing system for the economic security of unorganized employees in
old life. It includes home-based employees, street sellers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic
workers, rickshaw pullers, landless laborers, and self-employed individuals.
Atal Pension Yojna (APY): A pension program for unorganized employees who do not
pay income taxes.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Man Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY): Provides a monthly pension of Rs
3,000 to small and marginal farmers who reach the age of 60 and contribute between Rs
55 and Rs 200 depending on their age of entry.
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): Provides unorganized employees
(18-50 years) with a Rs 2 lakh life insurance cover in exchange for a Rs 330 per year
premium.
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): Provides insurance to unorganized

employees (18-70 years) for Rs 2 lakh in case of accidental death or total disability, and
Rs 1 lakh in case of partial disability, for a yearly premium of Rs 12.
JSY (Janani Suraksha Yojana): It gives conditional cash transfers to pregnant women in
order to minimize maternal and newborn mortality by encouraging institutional
delivery. The quantity varies across rural and urban regions, as well as between poor and
high-performing states.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): It offers a monetary bonus of Rs

5,000 to pregnant women and breastfeeding moms for their first live delivery.
The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWP): It provides Rs 2000 per
month to widows under the age of 60.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN): PM-KISAN is an income support

plan that offers up to Rs 6,000 per year to small and marginal farmers.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme: It seeks to

achieve livelihood stability by providing 100 days of employment to each rural
household each year.
Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS): It offers up to Rs 300 per
month to persons with severe impairments above the age of 18 in order to shield them
from economic hardship caused by disability.
Pradhan Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY (Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana): It covers secondary
and tertiary care hospitalization at public and accredited private hospitals up to Rs. 5
lakhs per family per year.
The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act of 2008: It provides for the establishment
of Social Security Boards for unorganized sector workers at the Central and State levels,
which shall recommend the formulation of social security schemes for unorganized
workers in terms of life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age
protection, and any other benefit as determined by the Government. Its provisions have
been incorporated and superseded by the 2020 Social Security Code.
Important Challenges
The presence of a substantial informal economy has been the key barrier to increasing
adequate social security coverage in a nation like India. The Indian economy is one of the
few significant and developing economies with a large informal sector characterized by
a huge number of small firms of self-employed and hired workers with no employment
and/or social protection.
Over the years, India’s conceptualization of informality has been sluggish to grow. For
many years, informality was defined using a residual method, which meant that all
people and businesses that were not in the official sector were considered informal.
The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) defined
the informal sector as, “unincorporated private enterprises owned by individuals or
households engaged in the sale and production of goods and services on a proprietary or
partnership basis, with fewer than ten workers.”
Another barrier to establishing social security in India is the country’s fragmented

administrative and delivery systems. While different ministries or governments (state
and central) are in charge of different plans. While the E-Shram site established a
centralized database for persons in informal work, it has yet to be connected to major
social security programs.
Furthermore, the fragmented system has resulted in a considerable lack of entitlement

portability among jurisdictions. This is especially important for migratory workers, who
are yet another vulnerable category and are frequently employed in the informal sector,
traveling from one location to another and frequently crossing state boundaries for
employment.
Though arrangements were developed in the aftermath of COVID-19 for accessing PDS
via e-Ration cards from everywhere and everywhere, the portability has yet to be
extended to other programs. The Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions
Code (2020), aims to offer some flexibility in migrant workers’ access to social security,
however, there are significant implementation challenges.
Recommendations
Social security systems must attempt to move away from the neoliberal minimalistic ‘
and ‘individualistic‘ inclinations. Instead, if major advances are to be made, a
commitment to provide universal, high-quality public services in health, education, and
other critical human services to everyone is required.
Market-oriented insurance models paired with tax-funded assistance programs for the
poor may minimize the fiscal burden, but they may result in severe exclusion or
inadequate protection of informal workers. Low and inconsistent wages typical of the
informal sector make regular payments by employees and employers problematic, and
the major employer is difficult to identify due to the country’s various layers of
subcontracting.
To enhance coverage, there is an urgent need to shift beyond the conventional direct and
stable conceptualization of the employer-employee connection, which now serves as the
foundation of the country’s social protection law. The notion of informal laborers should
be reconsidered. To guarantee wider inclusion of unpaid workers and platform workers,
it must be consistent with the broad definitions of labor and employment outlined in the
19th and 20th ICLS.
Income-focused, discretionary, minimalist (intended for the poor), and conditioned social
security policies must be phased out. A social protection system must be founded on a
concept of social fairness based on human rights. There must be a clear line between
entitlements and giveaways.
Evidence from Brazil suggests that a multi-sector approach to social protection initiatives
can be critical to effectively tackling development concerns. The Bolsa Familia is an
obvious example. It is a comprehensive social assistance system that is integrated with
numerous development goals (such as vaccination, school attendance, maternal health,
and education) and may be more successful in combating poverty in all of its
manifestations.
Mr Chachra concluded his presentation by sharing the urgent need for India to
understand its current demographic transition era. As the population ages, the
infrastructure for old-age pensions must be updated. The Chinese example might be
beneficial because both nations have comparable demographic transitions, population
sizes, and densities. Recognizing that the Chinese population is aging and in response to
harsh criticism of the social security system, China has overhauled its pension programs.
Universal Basic Income might be a valuable supplement, but it should not be used in
place of state-provided social safety. Transition requires a robust civil society, political
will, and action.
Investment and support for the Social and Solidarity Economy can be an essential step
forward since it has the capacity to overcome both market and state failings, particularly
during a crisis, due to its grassroots approach and socially oriented fundamental aim.
Land rights, particularly urban land rights for slum residents, urban informal laborers,
and the urban poor in general, are critical steps toward establishing a decent urban future.
With climate change affecting informal employees’ working circumstances, the loss of
employment and pay hours due to climate change must also be accounted for in social
security systems.
Every lecture was followed by an interactive question and answer session which
facilitated a more nuanced understanding of the topics covered and cultivated a critical
understanding among the participants about the discourse of Urban Policy and City
Planning. The session for the fifth day ended with Mahek Agarwal, a researcher at
IMPRI, thanking the panel members for their insightful sessions and the program ended
with a vote of thanks.
Chapter 17
India’s Urban Development Schemes

Impact & Way Forward
informative panel discussion on the topic “India’s Urban Development Schemes: Impact &
Way Forward ” was held on July 05, 2023, by Dr. Deepak Sanan, Former IAS Officer and
Ex-Additional Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh; Senior Visiting Fellow, Centre for Policy
Research (CPR); Senior Advisor, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS).
On the seventh day, the discussion was first contextualized by the Chair, Dr. Rumi Aijaz
(Senior Fellow and Head, of Urban Policy Research Initiative, ORF) who introduced the
theme and the speaker; namely addressing the challenges associated with Indian
urbanization through government schemes.
Firstly, Dr. Sanan described the historical shift in India’s development-related focus from
rural to urban areas post-independence. The late 1990s marked a significant transition
with a growing emphasis on urban infrastructure brought about by an increased
understanding of the fact that cities function as the epicenters of wealth and play an
important role in the socio-economic progress of the country. This shift was also guided
into existence by the crucial report on gaps in urban infrastructure authored by Rakesh
Mohan and the contribution of various other donors.
Assessing Urban Development Schemes in India: Conception and Challenges
The shift in the government’s approach led to the formulation of the Jawaharlal Nehru
National Urban Renewal Mission. The mission aimed to empower urban bodies and
enable self-governance through various measures, primarily, project-based financing
contingent on states implementing specific reforms in alignment with the goal of self-
governance and greater autonomy for local bodies.
The mission, however, has faced numerous hurdles due to capacity limitations and
excessive conditionality imposed in the procedure of accessing funds for projects.
While acknowledging the need for increased autonomy and touching upon the principle
of subsidiarity, he expounds upon the unfortunate reality of the resistance of local
politicians and bureaucrats to decentralizing power and devolving roles and functions to
local bodies as they perceive themselves as intermediaries awaiting positions of power at
the state level rather than primary agents of change. This skewed perception of local
bureaucrats and politicians as middlemen incapable of autonomy is also shared by the
electorate, resulting in a stalemate preventing either stakeholder from advocating for
change.
Dr. Sanan then introduced the concept of the ‘BNR’ mode (Build, Neglect, Rebuild)
highlighting the propensity of central schemes to result in sporadic infrastructure
development rather than sustained progress and delivery of results.
Calling attention to the structure of incentives outlined in the development scheme, he

describes how bureaucrats and local bodies of governance are primarily incentivized and
rewarded by meeting criteria for the establishment of new infrastructure instead of
improving the quality of delivery and availability of services provided by existing
infrastructure quoting examples of states with a number of development projects
diverging from the on-ground reality of the needs of the citizenry. He questioned
whether newer initiatives like AMRUT and Smart Cities have fared better than
JNNURM, concluding that they face the same set of challenges as the former.
Navigating the Path Ahead: Fostering Sustained Urban Development
Dr. Sanan advocated for a paradigm shift towards fostering demand for sustained
development to improve the availability and delivery of services. While acknowledging
the political realities posing hurdles to the devolution of power to local bodies, he
stressed the need for capacity building to drive collective behavior change in the
electorate leading to increased demand for continued efficacy of infrastructure and
services.
The cultivation of collective consciousness within the electorate to instill a deep-rooted

understanding of the benefits that can be derived from sustained development efforts is
the need of the hour. A social transformation where individuals perceive themselves as
active stakeholders driving the evolution of the urban spaces instead of passive recipients
of services is required.
Improving various parameters that govern the quality of infrastructure and public
services in a context where cities lack ownership due to existing, ill-conceived incentive
structures and a BNR (Build, Neglect, Rebuild) perspective requires a strategic approach.
Despite political-economic constraints that hinder power devolution to cities, fostering
demand for sustained development within the electorate becomes crucial which in turn
necessitates capacity building to drive collective behavior change, shifting focus towards
sustainable service delivery like sanitation and waste management rather than new
infrastructure.
Dr. Sanan touched upon specific issues such as the absence of guidelines for handling
diaper waste highlighting gaps in the existing approach to waste management in urban
spaces. The balancing of various constraints and intricacies is essential to bring about a
transformation in urban governance and actively promote increased citizen engagement.
He emphasized the need for monitoring of indicators of service delivery bringing in a
factor of accountability in the delivery of services. Credible data must be acquired to
ensure transparency in an age of ambiguous and manipulated information. Performance
data must be tracked and analyzed to establish that progress is underway. Dr.Sanan’s
insightful session underscored the challenge of balancing urban governance,
infrastructure development, and citizen engagement within the country’s evolving
political landscape.
Chapter 18
The Missing Links in Governing Cities
informative panel discussion on the topic “Governing Cities: The Missing Links” was held
by Professor Amita Bhide, Professor and Dean, School of Habitat Studies, Tata Institute of
Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.
For the second session of the seventh day, the discussion was first contextualized by the
chair Dr. Rumi Aijaz (Senior Fellow and Head, of Urban Policy Research Initiative, ORF)
who introduced the theme and the speaker; paving the way for the discourse on “The
Missing Links In Governing Cities” taken by Professor Amita Bhide.
A Look at the 74th Amendment
Dr. Bhide led the discourse with an introduction to the 74th Amendment, the non-
implementation of which is bemoaned by numerous policies. The 74th constitutional
amendment aims to empower urban local bodies and enhance the government’s focus on
foundational principles like subsidiarity, local democracy, and inclusivity. The actual
impact, however, has fallen short of expectations after initially promising a more
democratic, representative, and empowered third-tier government.
Deviations from the promises of the 74th Amendment have been laid bare in key urban
development schemes. JNNURM, while incorporating the 74th Amendment,
encountered numerous challenges when the initial script was modified to include the
community participation law and the public disclosure law, both of which were
extremely challenging to decode. Another deviation was undertaken in the shift from
public financing to project-based financing which resulted in the sidelining of municipal
bodies while elevating and strengthening the role of private consultants.
Misalignment with the objective of the amendment was also noticed in the
implementation of the Smart Cities project which exhibited a significant divergence by
implementing SPVs (special purpose vehicles), resulting in a tussle between the political
and the corporate and further cementing the role of consultants in local governance.
Dr. Bhide further discusses the implementation of the Swacch Bharat which was
ostensibly focussed on sanitation but triggered a transformation in the role of local
governments. Local governance was shifted from a function role to a more public
relations-oriented role through communication strategies to managing surveys and
rankings.
Dr. Bhide then introduced the concept of engendering, noting that although gender
representation emerged as a well-meaning objective of the 74th Amendment with 33%
representation given to women in leadership positions and committees, practices like
multi-member wards have hindered women’s participation by promoting dynastic rule.
Similarly, the conception of ward committees and area sabhas as a fourth tier of
governance witnessed minimal and uneven implementation, raising questions about
genuine citizen participation.
She draws attention to larger resistance to instituting participation through examples

such as ill-conceived metrics like participation for assessment of competitive proposals
for Swacch Bharat and the participation in Swachh Survekshan gauged to being opinion-
based and mediated as opposed to organic and citizen-based.
Current Challenges to Urban Governance: Pressures Faced, Redundancy and Urban

Dependency
The presence of multiple authorities with shared and overlapping functions, changing
geographies of cities, and issues of coordination contribute to concerns about
accountability and efficiency. Dr. Bhide takes note of an intriguing governance model in
Bangalore that seeks to hold parastatals accountable to the municipal body.
Highlighting the shift in the urban governance narrative towards the contemporary, local
issues of climate action, SDGs, and health initiatives, she emphasizes that questions
continue to persist regarding the institutionalization of the resources and powers
required to address these issues. Although the 74th Amendment introduced inclusive
functions, certain incongruities with municipal law have been observed, as evidenced by
schemes like street vendor inclusion where central directives advocate for consideration
while the municipal government perceives the issue as encroachment.
Financial complexities have also surfaced due to measures like the GST and the octroi
withdrawal which have both impacted local revenue streams.
Dr. Bhide continued by questioning the pervasive assumption that urban local
governments lack capacity. She called attention to the fact that capacity hinges on the
clarity of roles, powers, resource allocation, and accountability. Her session prompted a
reevaluation of whether municipal bodies are predominantly service delivery agencies,
local democracies, or both. Responses to these challenges often result in parallel
economies and informal governance. The role of larger cities as revenue generators for
the state also disincentivizes devolution, amplifying the dependency of urban governing
bodies on state institutions.
The Road Ahead
In pursuit of the ideal urban governance model, Professor Bhide draws attention to
questions regarding proximateness, scales of governance, tax-revenue connections, and
relationships with the higher levels of government, and arrives at a conclusion by
throwing light on a roadmap for the future. She emphasized the significance of robust,
local democracies, clearly defined spaces for citizen participation in crucial decisions, the
need for collaboration with parastatals, and the review of gendered reservations and their
efficacy.
A focus on the delivery of primary services supported by middlemen with technical

expertise and a sensitivity and understanding of the local context emerges as the need of
the hour. Professor Bhide ended the insightful session by underscoring the importance
of local adaptation and programs tailored to local needs, urging stakeholders to
reimagine urban development paving resulting in inclusive, accountable, and well-
developed cities.
Chapter 19
Urban Policy & City Governance in New India

Challenges & Opportunities
informative and panel discussion on the topic “Urban Policy & City Governance in New
India: Challenges & Opportunities” was held on July 26, 2023, by Dr M Ramachandran
Former IAS officer and Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India.
The session was opened by Dr Rumi Aijaz, Senior Fellow and Head, of Urban Policy
Research Initiative, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), who drew a brief about the
lectures given by the experts from various parts of India on their respective subjects and
shared their concerns that exist in India’s urban area and offered various ideas to
overcome those challenges. In conclusion, the speaker was graciously invited to share
their insightful and thought-provoking ideas with the participants on urban policy and
city governance in new India.
Introduction: Urban Local Bodies
Dr. M Ramachandran, began with, what is the concept of city or town, migration patterns
(from rural to urban particularly), and the contribution of the urban area to the economy.
Question was raised ‘What are we doing about the urban areas schemes?’
First point, for urban level government/ bodies there are 18 subjects listed and vary from
state to state, e.g., requirement of water, waste management, etc. We are in a confused
state of affairs, unlike New York, and London, where development in the cities is a matter
of subject for the Mayor’s council. Over the period of time, there have been some changes
but the local government has not reached that stage where they can perform their own,
in terms of capacity and functions. In 2005, JNNURM was introduced, and since then
central government has started taking up some initiatives for the cities.
Some other initiatives like AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and
Housing for All, were discussed. Even today there is a vacuum as far as where the fresh
migrants will go and how do they find a proper shelter so that they can continue to live.
Shortcomings in the scheme of things are urban transport or mobility within a city is a
subject that is not assigned to the ULBs, the reason could be the lack of ability to manage
the bus, metros, and mass rapid transit system, instead, they are managed by State
Governments. An example of Singapore was given, in terms of, the extent of their
potential in converting wastewater into potable water and they provide it as loo water.
Issues for Future India
He elaborated on the problems that a city can face in the future regarding the water as
water bodies have slowly started disappearing and can only be seen in the extreme
conditions of water logging or flooding. To address issues of this kind, master plans are
to be made in order to properly plan and manage the resources as well as the cities.
There is a lack of interest of the people and also a platform where citizens participate in
the governance process of the cities. The mixed situation exists in the matter of urban
development, there is much that needs to be done and there is much we all have already
experienced, the reason could be, that either the required initiatives are not taken, or
people are not able to participate in the process.
Case Study: Delhi
Moving ahead, prof. Ramachandran refers to the master plan of the areas and should also
look at the infrastructural facilitation plan, certain areas get good infrastructure whereas
some areas do even lack basic amenities, which is why some missions like Jal Jeevan
Programs are supposed to address those requirements. Another case study highlighted
by the speaker was of Delhi, hierarchy of the authorities like the New Delhi Municipal
Council, city corporation, and development authorities present there to manage and
facilitate urban infrastructure. Traditionally State Governments have the better say over
any other elected body of the city. The speaker also suggested a way in which the gap
between the municipal councils and citizens could be lessened.
Investments in Urban Infrastructure
The speaker, then, discussed the report from the World Bank, the huge investment which
is required for urban infrastructure. Also, the report of the Reserve Bank of India, on
Municipal finances talked about the need to improve it through property tax as a source
through better governance in which citizens can be encouraged to participate and make
payments online.
Other issues highlighted in the discussion were that of proper governance arrangements,
i.e., each city should look at where we stand with regard to water availability and supply
today what improvement is needed and how are we planning to move forward with it.
He shared his own experience of association with one of the states where the constitution
provides for having a metropolitan planning committee.
Conclusion
To conclude, Dr. M Ramachandran, drove the focus of the participant towards programs
initiated by central governments on industrial corridors, etc. because gone are the days
when we could limit our thinking to the standard aid down by the municipal bodies.
Everything and many things are happening beyond limits. Limited cities in this country
are found where there is water metro is a possibility other than road and rail transport.
As a citizen of the country, we have to think in terms of how more resources can become
available. Time has passed when we used to look up to the central/ state government to
provide everything, we have to think in terms of how and where we participate in the
city’s developmental process. Initiatives are required in order to have certain basic
facilitation in our cities.
Chapter 20
A Way Forward for Urban Planning & Governance

in Indian Cities
informative and panel discussion on the topic “A Way Forward for Urban Planning &
Governance in Indian Cities” was held on July 26, 2023, by Dr Rumi Aijaz Senior Fellow
and Head, Urban Policy Research Initiative, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New
Delhi.
Dr. Rumi Aijaz began the session he drawing the participants' understanding with what
are the opportunities that are available and what further can be done to ensure that the
citizens living in the country lead a better quality of life.
Demographic Profile of India v/s the World’s
Statistical data for the population of India based on the data available until now and the
dynamics of the change that is taking place i.e., how the rural population would be
reducing, and urban population is gradually increasing was discussed.
The speaker then compared the urbanization pattern of India with other countries where
a sizable population lives in urban areas. According to the census published in 2011, 31%
of India’s population lives in urban areas whereas in the case of other countries, some
European nations and Indonesia, Russia, and Japan have urban populations that are over
70% so this means that over 70% of those countries people live in urban areas. India is
relatively urbanized and as India moves towards greater urbanization more urban
population is expected in the next few decades and India has to be prepared to handle
this rapid growth.
Human Priorities in Different Phases of Life Cycle
During the human life cycle, people have various priorities, newborns need proper
nutrition and a clean environment, adolescents need good health care facilities and
education and recreational facilities, adults need jobs skill training institutions, and
transportation facilities, and the elderly need good care and protection. There are
deficiencies that need to be overcome in all these sectors whether it’s related to health,
education, recreation, environment, jobs, affordable homes, mobility facilities available
in urban areas and there is a major inequality when we see the ground reality.
The strategy that can be used to handle and manage urbanization highlighted by the
speaker is to align all proposals and policies by looking at the concerns of the people. A
significant drawback observed was that the master plans and the schemes that are
developed by the government and development authorities.
They cover most of these aspects for preparing the plans and development strategies but
for various reasons certain things are lacking because the adequate understanding of the
ground realities is not collected prior to making that plan or development scheme and
therefore many deficiencies exist in the practices that are followed and it results in the
existence of inequalities what we see in our urban areas in the housing sector, drinking
water supply, sanitation sector.
Many urban areas are considered unsafe for vulnerable populations and access to health
and education, it’s still an issue, and the environmental conditions are deteriorating, we
have observed from time to time incidents occur, and the authorities and the
administration are unable to respond effectively to those uh to those to those calamities
and disasters that occur.
Inequity in India
The next issue highlighted was that, when we again compare India to other global cities
like Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, Beijing, Berlin, Oslo, etc. despite having many problems
existing related to the migrant population, racial problems, and others, the quality of life
led by the people in these cities are way ahead than that of India’s. There is much more
scope for working more on topics such as making people cities people-friendly and the
kind of facilities that are required by them in order to do their work a city should be
people-friendly while planning and development activities should be designed
considering the requirements of the people and similarly the city should be inclusive for
all the sections of the society.
Within India, there has been an inequity in terms of the quality of life especially when
one looks at the sanitary condition of the people who live in slums with other sections of
the society. Lastly while talking about how a livable society should be, the speaker
mentioned some indicators of “A People’s City” and the need to work on it to make a
healthy city. Many smart cities have innovative approaches that can be utilized and
citizens can contribute ideas and knowledge to improve the existing scenario.
Case Study: Water-related Subject
Dr Aijaz shared his experience of a visit to the Sabarmati Riverfront. Low-income people
who were living along the river of course were relocated to peripheral areas of the city
because of the Sabarmati Riverfront development project and they faced great difficulty
in mobility they felt cut off from the city centre where they had been working and earning
money or having a day-to-day living.
A recent event happened in Delhi, when water was released from upstream and the lack
of proper management resulted in flooding streets in Delhi, especially in the case of Old
Delhi, where fire occurs or building collapses during monsoon city governments are not
prepared to respond effectively and the out-turn of this unpreparedness is loss of life and
property. It’s a shared responsibility and if the government is doing some work the
citizens have to respond in a certain manner.
The speaker concluded by presenting some of the ways to manage a city to release the
pressure of urban sprawling. Civic agencies' functions related to planning and
governance process, land-use planning, integration of technology, and internal
strengthening have to be done. Also, international cooperation, like the G20 presidency,
helps countries to pool resources, about the climate change aspects or weather, and better
respond to the situations.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Expressing sincere appreciation to Narayani Bhatnagar, Chaitanya Vivek

Deshpande, Bhanvi Mahek Agarwal, and the entire publishing team at IMPRI for
contributing to writing session reports of the event.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
A One-Month Immersive Online Introductory Certificate Training course on
Dates: 4, 5,11,12,18,19,25,26 July, 2023 | Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. IST | Platform: Zoom
Event Page: https://www.impriindia.com/event/urban-policy-and-city-planning/
About:
India is urbanizing and Indian cities, occupying just 3 percent of the land, contribute to 60
percent of the GDP. Potential of Indian cities to act as the engines of economic growth is
constrained by infrastructure, finance, and governance deficits. Cities are expected to
meet the increasing demand for basic services, affordable housing, and integrated
transport systems. Of late, climate change induced risks including cyclones, flooding,
heat waves, and so on have made Indian cities vulnerable due to their location and
diversity of geography. Mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptation
measures in urban planning and policy frameworks is critical to foster sustainable
development. The COVID-19-induced disruptions have exposed the inadequacies of urban
infrastructure and disaster management response systems. The pandemic has grounded the crucial
link between adequate housing, human settlements, and people’s ability to lead healthy lives.
People belonging to the socio-economically backward groups and the migrants bear the maximum
burnt of such inadequacies and adversaries on a regular basis, let alone during the pandemic time.
All these warrant rethinking the management of Indian cities, more than ever before.
In essence, urbanization and unplanned growth have led to complex social, economic, and
ecological challenges that the cities need to address, along with catering to the current demand for
essential infrastructure services and resource allocation toward better urban management. There
have been government attempts to address these challenges through disparate measures that range
from governance reforms towards decentralization and the myriad of central flagship schemes
(JnNURM, RAY, SCM, AMRUT, PMAY, SBM, and so on). Still, there are many shortcomings
– e.g., there is a shortage of housing in India regardless of the socio-economic conditions, despite
numerous housing programs established by the Government. It is not only the quantity but also
the quality of housing that is imperative for a sustainable India. Many of these issues are social in
nature and cannot be solved technically or solely by programmatic approaches. Urban informality
is pervasive and shapes the entire spectrum of urban service provision from planning to
implementation.
The four weeks/eight-day online training program has a comprehensive course structure
highlighting Indian urbanization and its array of challenges - infrastructural inadequacies,
sustainable housing and transport, governance deficits, infirm financial health, weak
local capacity, informality and inequality, climate resilience and adaptation. This
program aims to bring together professionals from academia, civic society, and the
commercial and entrepreneurial sectors to provide a solid interdisciplinary introduction
to the fundamental concepts of urban theory and planning and relate them to the
challenges faced by Indian cities. It will explore possible approaches and policy recommendations
for developing a resilient and sustainable urban infrastructure so that Indian cities are not only
efficient as well as resilient but also liveable for all.
For Whom:
Everyone having a keen interest in nuances and impact of urban planning

and governance challenges: Urban practitioners, research scholars, civil society
members, social entrepreneurs, working professionals, researchers, and post-
graduate and undergraduate students.
Benefits of taking the Course:
Participants would:
• Learn from globally renowned scholars, diplomats, and

practitioners in the field of international relations and foreign
policy
• Gain first-hand insights and networking opportunities
• Get course outline and reading list from the experts for learning
• Get access to session videos for 15 days
• Receive a certificate of completion
• Have the opportunity to publish their essays on the IMPRI

Insights Blog, which features the articles of eminent people from
around the globe.
Upon successful completion of the program, each participant will be

awarded a Certificate of Completion.
LIST OF PROGRAM EXPERTS
• Dr M Ramachandran,
Former IAS officer and Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India
Topic: Urban Policy & City Governance in New India: Challenges &
Opportunities
• Prof Chetan Vaidya,
Independent Urban Advisor; Former Director, School of Planning and Architecture,
New Delhi and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), New Delhi
Topic: An Overview of Urbanisation & Urban Governance In India
• Ar Romi Khosla,
Distinguished Architect, Researcher and Writer; Director, Romi Khosla Design Studios
Topic: Urban Planning in India
• Dr Deepak Sanan,
Former IAS Officer and Ex-Additional Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh; Senior
Visiting Fellow, Centre for Policy Research (CPR); Senior Advisor, Indian Institute for
Human Settlements (IIHS)
Topic: India's Urban Development Schemes: Impact & Way Forward
• Prof R B Bhagat,
Former Professor and Head, Department of Migration & Urban Studies, International
Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai
Topic: Migration and Right to City
• Prof Amita Bhide,
Professor and Dean, School of Habitat Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS),
Mumbai
Topic: The Missing Links in Governing Cities
• Prof Shyamala Mani,
Senior Advisor, WASH and Waste Management, CEH, Public Health Foundation of
India (PHFI); Former Professor, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), New Delhi
Topic: Waste Management and Air Pollution
• Mr Sandeep Chachra,
Executive Director, ActionAid Association, India, and Ex Co-Chair, World Urban
Campaign, UN-HABITAT; Advisor, IMPRI
Topic: Social Security in Indian Cities: Employment, Livelihoods, Health &
Social Protection
• Prof Debolina Kundu,
Professor, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), New Delhi
Topic: Inclusionary Urbanisation in India
• Dr Ravikant Joshi,
Advisor, Urban Management Centre, Ahmedabad and Former Chief Accounts Officer,
Vadodara Municipal Corporation
Topic: Financing of Urban Infrastructure in India - Issues and Way Forward
• Dr Glyn Williams,
Reader, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, University of Sheffield, UK
Topic: COVID-19 and Urban Governance in India: Reshaping People’s
Everyday Lives in Poorer, Slums & Informal Urban Neighbourhoods
• Mr Sameer Unhale,
Joint Commissioner, Department of Municipal Administration, Government of
Maharashtra; Urban Practitioner; Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI
Topic: Urban Planning, Governance & Practice from an Administrators View &
Local Bodies - State / Central Governments Relation
• Dr Akshaya K Sen,
Joint General Manager (Economics), Housing & Urban Development Corporation Ltd.
(HUDCO)
Topic: An Overview of Housing Policies & Housing Finance in India
• Mr Leo F. Saldanha, Founding Trustee and Coordinator, Environment Support Group

(ESG), Bengaluru
Topic: Cities, Environment, Climate Change & Social Justice
• Mr Srinivas Alavilli,
Fellow, Integrated Transport and Road Safety, World Resources Institute (WRI) India
Topic: Mobility and Urban Transport in India
• Ms Vanessa Peter,
Founder, Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities
(IRCDUC), Chennai
Topic: Role of Communities & Civil Society in Urban Planning &
Development
• Dr Soumyadip Chattopadhyay,
Associate Professor, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan; Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI
Topic: Strengthening the Financial Health of Indian Cities & Indian Urban
Schemes & Initiatives
• Mr Tikender Singh Panwar,
Senior Fellow, IMPRI; Former Deputy Mayor, Shimla
Topic: History of Indian Cities & Challenges towards Attaining SDGs
PROGRAM STRUCTURE

An Online International Monsoon School Program
A One-Month Immersive Online Introductory Certificate Training Course
July 2023 | IMPRI #WebPolicyLearning
Time Session Topic Expert

Slot (IST)
Week 1 | Overview, Planning, Policies & Schemes

Day 1: July 4, 2023
6:30 - 7:30 An Overview of Urbanisation & Urban Governance In India Prof Chetan Vaidya
p.m.
7:30 - 8:30 History of Indian Cities & Challenges towards Attaining SDGs Shri Tikender Singh
p.m. Panwar
Day 2: July 5, 2023

6:30 - 7:30 Dr Romi Khosla
p.m. Urban Planning in India
7:30 - 8:30 Mobility and Urban Transport in India Mr Srinivas Alavilli
p.m.
Week 2 | Economy, Finance, Infrastructure, Practice & Built-Environment

Day 3: July 11, 2023
6:30 - 7:30 Financing of Urban Infrastructure in India - Issues and Way Dr Ravikant Joshi
p.m. Forward
7:30 - 8:30 COVID-19 and Urban Governance in India: Reshaping People’s Dr Glyn Williams
p.m. Everyday Lives in Poorer, Slums & Informal Urban
Neighbourhoods
Day 4: July 12, 2023

6:30 - 7:10 Urban Planning, Governance & Practice from an Administrators Mr Sameer Unhale
p.m. View & Local Bodies - State / Central Governments Relation
7:10 - 7:50 Strengthening the Financial Health of Indian Cities & Indian Dr Soumyadip
p.m. Urban Schemes & Initiatives Chattopadhyay
7:50 - 8:30 An Overview of Housing Policies & Housing Finance in India Dr Akshaya K Sen
p.m.
Week 3 | Human Settlements, Social Security, Environment & Welfare
Day 5: July 18, 2023

6:30 - 7:10 Cities, Environment, Climate Change & Social Justice Mr Leo F. Saldanha
p.m.
7:10 - 7:50 Waste Management and Air Pollution Prof Shyamala Mani
p.m.
7:50 - 8:30 Role of Communities & Civil Society in Urban Planning & Ms Vanessa Peter
p.m. Development
Day 6: July 19, 2023

6:30 - 7:10 Migration and Right to City Prof R B Bhagat
p.m.
7:10 - 7:50 Inclusionary Urbanisation in India Prof Debolina Kundu
p.m.
7:50 - 8:30 Social Security in Indian Cities: Employment, Livelihoods, Health Mr Sandeep Chachra
p.m. & Social Protection
Week 4 | Current Issues, Challenges & Way Forward

Day 7: July 25, 2023
6:30 - 7:30 India's Urban Development Schemes: Impact & Way Forward Dr Deepak Sanan
p.m.
7:30 - 8:30 The Missing Links in Governing Cities Prof Amita Bhide
p.m.
Day 8: July 26, 2023

6:30 - 7:30 Urban Policy & City Governance in New India: Challenges & Dr M Ramachandran
p.m. Opportunities
7:30 - 8:30 A Way Forward for Urban Planning & Governance in Indian Cities Dr Rumi Aijaz
p.m.
READING LIST
S. Title & Link Author/s Year Publisher

No.
Prof Chetan Vaidya | An Overview of Urbanisation & Urban Governance In India
1 Reforming Urban Governance in Chetan Vaidya & Hitesh 2023 IMPRI
India: Issues and Way Forward Vaidya
Shri Tikender Singh Panwar | History of Indian Cities & Challenges towards Attaining SDGs
1 Cities in Transition Tikender Singh Panwar 2023 IMPRI Books
2 Insights by Tikender Singh Panwar Tikender Singh Panwar IMPRI
Dr Romi Khosla | Urban Planning in India

1 The Loneliness of a Long–Distant Romi Khosla 2020 Tulika Books
Future – Dilemmas of
Contemporary Architecture
2 India’s Urban Landscape Black Romi Khosla 2017 Economic and Political
Towns of the 21st Century Weekly
3 Changing India's Urban and Romi Khosla 2018 Economic and Political
Economic Landscape Weekly
Mr Srinivas Alavilli | Mobility and Urban Transport in India

1 Two Govts, Three CMs: Some Big Srinivas Alavilli 2023 Citizen Matters
Hits, Many Misses for Sustainable
Mobility in Bengaluru
2 New Traffic Fines: “We Need Less Srinivas Alavilli 2019 Citizen Matters
Outrage, More Political
Accountability”
3 Why I Like Ward Committees So Srinivas Alavilli 2022 Citizen Matters
Much – and How You Can Too
Dr Ravikant Joshi | Financing of Urban Infrastructure in India - Issues and Way Forward
1 Ravikant Joshi Google Site Ravikant Joshi Google Site
Dr Glyn Williams | COVID-19 and Urban Governance in India: Reshaping People’s Everyday Lives
in Poorer, Slums & Informal Urban Neighbourhoods
1 Informal Settlements, the Emerging Amita Bhide 2020 Journal of Social and
Response to COVID and the Economic Development
Imperative of Transforming the
Narrative
2 Capacity in Motion: Comparative Tathagata Chatterji, Graeme 2022 Territory Politics

COVID-19 Governance in India and Gotz & Philip Harrison Governance
South Africa
3 Lessons for Social Protection from Gautam Bhan, Antara Rai 2020 Indian Institute for
the COVID-19 Lockdowns Report 1 Chowdhury, Neha Margosa, Human Settlements
of 2: State Relief Kinjal Sampat & Nidhi
Sohane
4 Lessons for Social Protection from Gautam Bhan, Pooja DSouza, 2022 Indian Institute for
the COVID-19 Lockdowns. Report 2 Harshal Gajjar, Neha Human Settlements
of 2: Non-State Actors Margosa, Rashee Mehra,
Krishna Priya & Chimmiri Sai
Rashmi
Mr Sameer Unhale | Urban Planning, Governance & Practice from an Administrators View & Local
Bodies - State / Central Governments Relation
1 #CityReflections A Practitioner’s Sameer Unhale 2022 IMPRI Books
Experience in Urban Governance
Amidst Uncertain Times
2 How Will India Fix Her Urban Binti Singh & Sameer Unhale 2020 Between Architecture
Future? and Urbanism
Dr Soumyadip Chattopadhyay | Strengthening the Financial Health of Indian Cities & Indian Urban
Schemes & Initiatives
1 Decentralised Urban Governance in Soumyadip Chattopadhyay 2004 Economic and Political
India: Implications for Financing of Weekly
Urban Infrastructure
2 Strengthening Fiscal Health of Maumita Das, Soumyadip 2018 Economic and Political
Urban Local Bodies Chattopadhyay Weekly
3 Municipal Bond Market for Soumyadip Chattopadhyay 2006 Economic and Political
Financing Urban Infrastructure Weekly
4 Affordable Urban Housing and Soumyadip Chattopadhyay & 2022 Economic and Political
Budget 2022-23 - A Reality Check Arjun Kumar Weekly
5 Cities & Union Budget 2023-24 Soumyadip Chattopadhyay & 2023 Shelter, HUDCO
Arjun Kumar Publication
Dr Akshaya K Sen | An Overview of Housing Policies & Housing Finance in India

1 Affordable Housing and Sustainable Akshaya K Sen 2020 Shelter, HUDCO
Urban Development in India - Fifty Publication
Years of HUDCO’s Contribution to
Nation Building
2 Senior Citizen Housing A Road Less Rajiv Sharma, Akshaya K Sen 2016 Shelter, HUDCO
Travelled Publication
3 Housing at the Centre Enabling Akshaya K Sen 2016 Shelter, HUDCO
Provisions in the Urbanising World Publication
4 ‘Rent-to-Own’ – A Viable Option for Rajiv Sharma, Akshaya K Sen 2013 Shelter, HUDCO
Affordable Housing Publication
5 Housing for Slum Dwellers in Delhi Asjad Bashir Alvi & Akshaya 2013 Shelter, HUDCO
– Implementing ‘Rent- to Own’ in Kumar Sen Publication
Ward 103
Mr Leo F. Saldanha | Cities, Environment, Climate Change & Social Justice

1 Concrete Galore: The transformation Leo F. Saldanha 2022 The Hindu
of Bengaluru
2 Green Tapism: A Review of the Leo F. Saldanha 2006 ESG
Environmental Impact Assessment
Notification, 2006
3 Karnataka: Cauvery in Death Throes Leo F. Saldanha & Bhargavi 2015 OUP
S. Rao
4 Leo Saldanha Academia Profile Academia
Prof Shyamala Mani | Waste Management and Air Pollution

1 24 to 48 Hour Composting Monika Khanna Gulati & 2020 JDPR, IMPRI
Machines: Do They Really Produce Shyamala K. Mani
Compost as the Final Output and
Their Viability for Community
Composting in Indian Cities
2 Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Shyamala Mani & Satpal 2016 Procedia Environmental
Management in India: A Policy Singh Sciences
Agenda
3 Sustainable Ways to Manage Waste Ananya Tewari & Shyamala 2021 Climate Change and the
in Healthcare Facilities Mani Health Sector
Ms Vanessa Peter | Role of Communities & Civil Society in Urban Planning & Development
1 Resettlement of Urban Poor in Vanessa Peter & Dilip 2016 Academia
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Concerns in Diwakar
R&R Policy and Urban Housing
Programme
2 Resettlement of Urban Poor in Vanessa Peter 2016 Academia
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
3 Factors Associated With COVID-19 Vanessa Peter 2022 Academia
Stigma During the Onset of the
Global Pandemic in India: A Cross-
Sectional Study
Prof R B Bhagat | Migration and Right to City
1 Migration and Urban Transition in R. B. Bhagat, Archana K. Roy 2020 Routledge

India Development Perspective & Harihar Sahoo
2 Researching Internal Migration S. Irudaya Rajan & R. B. 2022 Routledge India
Bhagat
3 Development Impacts of Migration R B Bhagat 2018 Economic and Political
and Urbanisation Weekly
4 Migration, Gender and Right to the R B Bhagat 2017 Economic and Political
City Weekly
5 Migrants, Mobility and Citizenship Ashwani Kumar & R. B. 2021 Routledge
in India Bhagat
6 Climate Change, Vulnerability and S. Irudaya Rajan & R. B. 2017 Routledge
Migration Bhagat
7 Emerging Pattern of Urbanisation in R B Bhagat 2011 Economic and Political
India Weekly
8 Urbanisation and Access to Basic R B Bhagat 2011 Urban India
Amenities in India
9 Temporary and Seasonal Migration: Kunal Keshri & R B Bhagat 2012 Economic and Political
Regional Pattern, Characteristics and Weekly
Associated Factors
10 Conditions of SC/ST Households A R B Bhagat 2013 Economic and Political
Story of Unequal Improvement Weekly
Prof Debolina Kundu | Inclusionary Urbanisation in India

1 Urbanisation in India: Towards a Debolina Kundu 2020 Springer
National Urban Policy Framework
and Smart Cities
2 Urban Governance for a Sustainable Debolina Kundu 2021 One Earth Voices
Future
3 India, Germany and Europe A Debolina Kundu, Biswajit 2021 Federal Institute of
Spatial Perspective at SDG 11 on Kar, Tania Debnath & Rakesh Research on Building,
Sustainable Cities and Communities Mishra Urban Affairs and
Spatial Development
4 India, Germany and Europe A Debolina Kundu, Biswajit Kar 2022 Federal Institute of
Spatial Perspective at SDG 5 on & Swastika Chakravorthy Research on Building,
Gender Equality Urban Affairs and
Spatial Development
5 Children and Adolescents in Urban Debolina Kundu, Biswajit Kar 2022 UNICEF
India-Scale and Nature of & Tania Debnath
Deprivation-An Empirical Analysis
6 Sex Ratio at Birth in Urban India Debolina Kundu, Rakesh 2022 Economic and Political
Mishra, Arvind Pandey & Weekly
Devender Singh
7 Child Obesity and Urbanisation in Debolina Kundu, Rakesh 2021 ASIA- EUROPE
India: An Overview with a Focus on Mishra & Swastika Foundation
Delhi Chakravorthy
8 HANDBOOK OF URBAN Biswajit Kar, Debolina Kundu 2021 Urban Statistics

STATISTICS: Ensuring Visibility of & Tania Debnath
Persons with Disabilities (Divyangs)
in Indian Cities
9 Children and Adolescents in Urban Debolina Kundu 2020 National Institute of
India: Scale and Nature of Urban Affairs
Deprivation
10 Redefining the Inclusive Urban Debolina Kundu & Dibyendu 2011 Economic and Political
Agenda in India Samanta Weekly
11 Elite Capture in Participatory Urban Debolina Kundu 2011 Economic and Political
Governance Weekly
12 Migration, Caste and Marginalised Debolina Kundu & Arpita 2018 Economic and Political
Sections Inequality in the Coverage Banerjee Weekly
of Basic Services in Urban India
13 Urban Policies in Neo-Liberal India Debolina Kundu 2020 Springer
14 Reforms in Urban Land Governance Debolina Kundu & Pragya 2019 National Institute of
in India Sharma Urban Affairs (NIUA)
15 Exploring Rural–Urban Inequality in Debolina Kundu & Arvind 2020 National Institute of
India in the Post-economic Reform Pandey Urban Affairs (NIUA)
Period
16 Making Cities Work: Policies and Debolina Kundu, Arvind 2019 National Institute of
Programmes in India Pandey & Pragya Sharma Urban Affairs (NIUA)
Mr Sandeep Chachra | Social Security in Indian Cities: Employment, Livelihoods, Health & Social
Protection
1 Where Will the City-Maker Stay? Sandeep Chachra 2020 ActionAid India &
IMPRI
2 Refugees and the Cities We Need Sandeep Chachra 2022 Deccan Herald
Now
3 We Supported Over 7.7mn People in Sandeep Chachra 2021 The Daily Guardian
First Wave
4 Social Security and Informal Sandeep Chachra 2022 ActionAid India
Workers
5 An Urban World that Welcomes Sandeep Chachra 2022 ActionAid India
Refugees | The City We Need Now
6 Workers in the Time of COVID-19 – Sandeep Chachra 2021 ActionAid India
Round II of the National Study on
Informal Workers
7 Social Security for Unorganised Sandeep Chachra 2019 ActionAid India
Workers in india
8 Enhancing Livelihoods, Building Sandeep Chachra 2019 ActionAid India
Collectives
9 Smart Cities and Urban Deprived Sandeep Chachra 2019 ActionAid India
Communities
Dr Deepak Sanan | India's Urban Development Schemes: Impact & Way Forward
1 Deepak Sanan Profile Indian Institute for
Human Settlements
Prof Amita Bhide | The Missing Links in Governing Cities

1 Urban Local Governance: Revisiting Amita Bhide 2021 Routledge, India
the Fundamentals
2 Seeing the Invisible: Women, Linda Peake, Caroline Moser 1994 Centre for Urban and
Gender and Urban Development Community Studies,
University of Toronto
3 Considering Local Democratic Gary Bland 2011 Journal of Politics in
Transition in Latin America Latin America
Dr M Ramachandran | Urban Policy & City Governance in New India: Challenges & Opportunities
1 Make Local Governance Vocal M Ramachandran 2020 The Pioneer
2 Urban Mobility Solutions for M Ramachandran 2022 Copal Publishing Group
Developing Countries
3 Reforming Urban Transport in M Ramachandran 2015 Copal Publishing Group
India: Issues and Best
Dr Rumi Aijaz | A Way Forward for Urban Planning & Governance in Indian Cities
1 Rumi Aijaz Expert Profile and ORF
Publications at ORF
2 India’s Peri-Urban Regions: The Rumi Aijaz 2019 ORF Issue Brief
Need
for Policy and the Challenges
of Governance
3 Guiding Peri-Urban Transformation Rumi Aijaz 2022 ORF Urban Futures
4 Pathways Towards Resilient Cities Rumi Aijaz 2023 ORF Urban Futures
5 Making cities more inclusive Rumi Aijaz 2023 ORF Urban Futures
6 The Herculean Task of Improving Rumi Aijaz 2018 ORF Urban Futures
Air Quality: The Case of Delhi and
NCR
7 Measuring Urbanisation in India Rumi Aijaz 2017 ORF Issue Brief and
Special Reports
8 Delhi Master Plan 2021–41: Towards Rumi Aijaz 2021 Ocassional Papers
a People’s City?
9 India’s Smart Cities Mission, 2015- Rumi Aijaz 2021 Observer Research
2021: A Stocktaking Foundation
10 How Fares the PMAY (U)? Taking Rumi Aijaz 2022 ORF Issue Brief and
Stock of India’s National Housing Special Reports
Programme
11 Global Approaches to Vehicle Rumi Aijaz 2023 ORF Issue Brief
Electrification and Their Lessons for
India
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Participants List and Details
A One-Month Immersive Online Introductory Certificate Training Course
July 2023 | IMPRI #WebPolicyLearning
Full Name Designation Organisation Location
Student of Masters of
A S Saaral SPA Delhi Delhi
urban design
civil services
Aishwarya Jha student new delhi
aspirant
Anil Nimesh Architect planner Anil Nimesh Dehradun
Department of
Ankita Doctoral Research
English, University Delhi
Kaushik Scholar
of Delhi
South Asian
Ankur Verma Student Lucknow
University
Anoushka
Osazuwa Student Na Chennai
Akhigbe
Anushka
Senior Product Designer CivicDataLab Pune
Gokhale
Arunima Rajan Independent Journalist NA Mumbai
Asim Kumar
Assistant Manger-Project Save the Children Patna
Mandal
AICC Research
Asmi Sharma Researcher Department, Land New Delhi
Conflict Watch
Architect/Designer Murshidabad,
Azizur Rahim LOYARCHI
Vastu consultant West Bengal
Sarvajanik College of
Dhruv Tapadia Research Student Engg & Technology, Surat
Surat
Ambedkar
Diksha Joshi Student Delhi
university
Bachelor in Science in Sarla Anil Modi

Diya Gupta Ahmedabad
Economics - 2020-23 School of Economics
Assistant Professor,CED, MVSR Engineering

Dr G Padmaja Hyderabad
MVSREC College
Dr. Paramjeet
Consultant/ TBD WRI Delhi
Chawla
University of
Dr. Sanjay Patil Research Assistant Mumbai
Mumbai
Institute of Medical
Dr. Siddharth Resident, Dept of
Sciences, Banaras Varanasi
Singh Community Medicine
Hindu Univeristy
Dr. Vijay J S Hindu P G

Assistant Professor Amroha
Yadav College Amroha
Harshaa
Student/Intern DU Delhi
Kawatra
Rupnagar,
Heena Dahiya PhD Scholar IIT Ropar
Punjab
Public Works
Hyacinth Pinto Architect Department, Govt of Panaji
Goa
Bartlett
Development
Jahanavi
Student Planning Unit, London
Sharma
University College
London
CM's Urban Leader

Jyoti Kalash Delhi Government Delhi
Fellow
Mahek
Intern IMPRI Vizag
Agarwal
faculty of
Malishka Architect , Aspiring
architecture and Lucknow
Gupta planner
planning
University of
Manjima A Student Kannur
Hyderabad
Mansi Garg Architect IMPRI india Delhi
Lady Shri Ram

Meha Sinha Graduate Noida
College for Women
N P KUSUMA deepika architects

ARCHITECT HYDERABAD
KUMARI and engineers
Senior Consultant -
Navendu Independent
Research, Policy and New Delhi
Mishra Professional
Business Strategy
Nayan Jyoti Going Tech Mangaldai,

CEO
Hazarika Solutions Pvt Ltd Assam
Madhav institute of
Neha Katare Student technology and Gwalior
science
Prof. Rajeev Gowda

Neha Ramesh Research Associate Office (Ex- INC MP, Bangalore
Ex-IIMB)
Nimisha Deputy General

UPSIDA Lucknow
Sharma Manager
Nisha Nair Student IIT BOMBAY Mumbai
Potnuru
Rajasekhar
Prabhakar
Shahari Garib Vikas
Kumar Activist Patna
Sangathan
Prajapati
Prachi Chirania Analyst IPE Global Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore
Prasanth Self Employee Edenz India Namakkal
IAS, Deputy
Development Government of
Prerna Dixit Hazaribagh
Commissioner, Jharkhand
Hazaribag
Impact & Policy

Priyanka Negi Research intern Delhi
Research Institute
Rahul Sharma No No Delhi
Rajashree
Professor VNIT Nagpur Nagpur
Kotharkar
Rishav PG Student (Master's in

IIT Delhi New Delhi
Sankrityayan Public Policy)
Rita Mody
Architect Rita Mody Joshi Calangute
Joshi
Tata Institute of
Sanchi Madna Student Hyderabad
Social Sciences
Not associated with

Saptadipa Freelance illustrator
any organisation at Kolkata
Mallick presently.
the moment.
Sarath Balaji Collaborative Design

Founder Chennai
Ramanan Works
Ahmedabad
Satya Oza PhD Student Ahmedabad
University
Satyajit
Regional Director SAS / TERI-SAS New Delhi
Dwivedi
Department of
Satyam Raj MGNF Daporijo
Industries
Gokhale Institute of
Saylee Jog Assistant Professor Politics and Pune
Economics
NMIMS, Navi
Shivam Thakur Student Mumbai
Mumbai Campus
Shiven Misra Architect NA New Delhi
Shourya Mehta Student Delhi University New Delhi
Sonal Dsouza NA NA Mumbai
Srestha
Student Self-employed Kolkata
Chatterjee
University of
Tanay Thakur Student Kolkata
Hyderabad
Vaishali Singh Research Intern IMPRI Chandigarh
Vaishnavi Pune,
Student Cardiff University
Nandedkar Maharashtra
OP Jindal Global
Vansh Shah Student Mumbai
University
Aeron Systems Pvt

Vikas Dohare Environment Specialist Pune
Ltd
IIT Madras Research

Yugeshwari V Architect Chennai
Park
TESTIMONIALS
GALLERY
Thank you for choosing IMPRI Books
Visit us at:
www.books.impriindia.com
About the Book
Urban Policy and City Planning - Event Outcome Report by Rumi Aijaz,
Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, Simi Mehta, and Arjun Kumar is the product of
multiple events in IMPRI’s #WebPolicyLearning series. This Compilation of
ideas and thoughts of various subject matter experts and practitioners is
an approach that seeks to shed light on the ways in which India's urban
policy and city planning were articulated and continue to evolve in the light
of India’s Urbanization and development planning. This Event Outcome
Report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis and documentation of
India's Urban Policy and City Planning and its impact on the formulation
and execution of India’s Development. It delves into the multifaceted
aspects of Urban governance, financing urban infrastructure, emerging
problems, the role of communities, and so forth.
Authors’ Profile
Dr Rumi Aijaz, Senior Fellow and Head, Urban Policy

Research Initiative, Observer Research Foundation
(ORF), New Delhi
Dr Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, Associate Professor,

Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan; Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI
Dr Simi Mehta, CEO and Editorial Director, IMPRI
Dr Arjun Kumar is the Director of the IMPRI Impact and

Policy Research Institute, New Delhi. He holds a Ph.D. in
Economics from the Centre for the Study of Regional
Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal
Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
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Managed and Published by IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi
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Impact and Policy Research Review (IPRR) (e-ISSN: 2583-3464) is a biannual research journal
managed and published by IMPRI I MPACT AND P OLICY R ESEARCH I NSTITUTE , New Delhi.
IPRR hosts written contributions on topics having concrete implications for progressive development,
covering a well-grounded policy analysis, that is interdisciplinary or focused on particular disciplines.
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Urban Policy and City Planning

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ISBN: 978-81-956402-7-0

EVENT OUTCOME REPORT

RUMI AIJAZ, SOUMYADIP CHATTOPADHYAY,

Urban Policy and City Planning

Event Outcome Report

Rumi Aijaz, Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, Simi Mehta, Arjun Kumar

By Rumi Aijaz, Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, Simi Mehta, Arjun Kumar

Copyright © IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi

Published by: ARJUN KUMAR

For suggestions, queries, or feedback, write to us at: editorial.impri@gmail.com

Dr. Arjun Kumar

Rumi Aijaz, Soumyadip Chattopadhyay, Simi Mehta, Arjun Kumar

Chapter 1 Urban Policy and City Planning ............................................................................................................... 1

Chapter 2 An Overview of Urbanization & Urban Governance in India................................................. 11

Chapter 4 An Overview of Urban planning in India .......................................................................................... 15

Chapter 5 Mobility and Urban Transport in India ............................................................................................. 18

Chapter 10 An Overview of Housing Policies & Housing Finance in India .......................................... 36

Chapter 11 Cities, Environment, Climate Change & Social Justice ............................................................ 38

Chapter 12 Waste Management and Air Pollution............................................................................................. 44

Chapter 14 Migration and Right to City................................................................................................................... 55

Chapter 15 Inclusionary Urbanisation in India .................................................................................................. 58

Chapter 18 The Missing Links in Governing Cities ........................................................................................... 79

ABOUT THE PROGRAM ....................................................................................................................................................... 89

A One-Month Immersive Online Introductory Certificate Training Course on Urban Policy

Urbanization is more than just a demographic shift; it is a profound transformation that

Day 1: An Overview of Urbanization & Urban Governance in India

History of Indian Cities & Challenges Towards Attaining SDGs

Day 2: Urban Planning in India

Mobility and Urban Transport in India

Day 3: Financing of Urban Infrastructure in India – Issues and Way Forward

Dr. Ravikant Joshi led an insightful session on “Financing of Urban Infrastructure in

COVID-19 and Urban Governance in India: Reshaping People’s Everyday Lives in

Dr. Williams presented a compelling case study encompassing Chennai, Ahmedabad,

The presentation underscored the significance of community-level organizational

Dr Akshaya K Sen offered an overview of Indian housing policies’ evolution. He detailed

These discussions collectively illuminated the challenges, opportunities, and

Dr Soumyadip Chattopadhyay commenced his presentation by shedding light on the

In conclusion, he summarized the various avenues through which municipalities can

An Overview of Housing Policies & Housing Finance in India

Day 5: Cities, Environment, Climate Change & Social Justice

Mr Saldanha discussed the transformation of Bangalore and the concept of “Brand

Role of Communities & Civil Society in Urban Planning & Development

Day 6: Migration and Right to City

The session, led by Prof. R B Bhagat, delved into urbanization’s socio-economic

Inclusionary Urbanisation in India

Day 7: India’s Urban Development Schemes: Impact & Way Forward

The Missing Links in Governing Cities

A Way Forward for Urban Planning & Governance in Indian Cities

He critiqued existing urban planning practices for lacking an understanding of ground

These panel discussions and lectures provided a comprehensive overview of the

An Overview of Urbanization & Urban Governance in India

Next up, he explained the importance of the 74th Constitutional Amendment to

Reasons for the Hijacking of the Discipline of Urban Planning

Revitalizing the discipline of urban planning

● Realigning the crucial role of technology in human development. It is crypto

● Deepening the participation of citizens in the decision-making process of Urban

● He is deeply concerned by the serious trust deficit between the elected

Principles of Urban Mobility

● Sustainable Mobility– It focuses on the accessibility and eco-friendliness of different

Why aren’t flyovers the solution to traffic problems?

The Tale of Two Cities- Mumbai and Bengaluru

Vehicle population growth in Bengaluru

The environmental perspective

Tackling Urban Mobility with Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS)