Page 46 - Shelter-April 2024

CASE STUDIES

also have another major pie diversity, integration promoting sustainable
with 22.6 per cent of total in urban space, consumption and
urban population (Census enhancing liveability, production patterns, by
2011). Therefore, although education, food building urban resilience,
urban population has been security, health, ending reducing disaster risks
becoming more spread out, epidemics, promoting and mitigating and
larger cities, particularly safety, eliminating adapting to climate
metropolitan cities, continue discrimination and change.
to have a larger role to play all forms of violence,
in supporting urbanisation providing equal access The current energy systems
and economic growth of the to physical and social of cities are not geared
nation. infrastructure and basic towards achieving the goals
services, as well as of “New Urban Agenda”,
Yet, for a long time, cities adequate and affordable which emphasises upon
were neglected in the appropriate planning, design,
national development housing. finance, development,
policy. Urbanisation was • Ensure sustainable and governance and management
traditionally viewed as a inclusive urban econ- interventions to achieve the
negative force that exerts omies - by leveraging Sustainable Development
pressure on the country’s fiscal the agglomeration ben- Goals (SDGs). The SDG 11 on
resources. However, with the efits of well-planned sustainable cities and human
increasing concentration of urbanisation, produc- settlements emphasises upon
economic activities in cities, tivity, competitiveness, making cities inclusive, safe,
they are becoming important innovation, by promoting resilient and sustainable;
for the overall socio-economic full and productive Other SDGs viz., SDG 3
development of the nation. employment, equal (health and well-being),
Urban areas not only generate access for all to economic SDG 7 (energy) and SDG 13
employment and serve as and productive resources (climate) have also laid down
shelters for population but are and opportunities, goals towards achieving
also the centres of knowledge, preventing land integrated planning, access
cultural resources and speculation, promoting to basic services, slum
financial capital. The positive secure land tenure,
role of cities and urbanisation and managing urban upgradation and decent
and affordable housing (UN
in the overall development shrinking where
of human society has been appropriate. 2015). Reduction of energy
emphasised upon by the consumption, especially
in the public services like
“New Urban Agenda”, which • Ensure environmental
broadly covers (UN Habitat sustainability – by streetlights in cities, will not
2016): promoting clean energy only have global benefits
and sustainable use of of reduced emissions but
• Social transformation land and resources in also result in several other
– Leaving no one urban development, by local benefits to the citizens
behind – by ending protecting ecosystems viz., improved illumination
poverty, ensuring public and biodiversity benefits, improved road
participation, equal rights including adopting safety, reduced crime, safe
and opportunities, socio- healthy lifestyles in neighbourhoods and reduced
economic and cultural harmony with nature, by ecological footprint.

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