The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in collaboration with Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) will be organizing one day International Conference on 16th April, 2008 in New Delhi to overview the approach India is adopting and needs to adopt in achieving the objective of inclusive cities. The conference titled “The inclusive city: urban strategies to promote social cohesion and inclusiveness; the commonwealth experience and its relevance to Indian local self government” will be focusing on case studies of different approaches in India and commonwealth countries in urban development and housing sector.
The Conference will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja. Conference is structured to have a panel discussion on “Different approaches to achieving the inclusive city”. Further, six working groups will deliberate on specific issues and case studies on inclusive cities.
The Conference will provide a platform to Indian urban sector stakeholders to share experience and expertise with other Commonwealth countries. The one-day Conference will also deliberate on ideas and good practice, identification of common themes affecting local government across the commonwealth, identification of areas of cooperation and engagement of policy makers, administrative, NGOs to finalise issues which needs to be addressed on priority. Therefore, the Conference is expected to lead to initiatives that make the urbanization more sustainable, equitable, human and socially inclusive. Specific themes taken up for presentation and discussion are local area agreements which cover strategies for engaging with local community for inclusive local economic development, inclusive governance, community mapping, particularly budgeting, gender equality and equity.
The Conference aims to deliberate upon the role of the forum and the Commonwealth in the promotion of inclusive cities. It will cover a range of strategies such as development of manuals checklists, guidelines and source book for mutual reference and application, documentation and awarding of best practices and taking up suitable research, training and advocacy to motivate, sensitize, support encourage and engage stakeholders for promotion of inclusive city. In the light of Government of India’s Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) focus on inclusive and Faster Growth, the organization of this Conference, therefore, has special relevance in the Indian context.
The Conference will be attended by over 100 delegates drawn from member countries of the Commonwealth, including a number of local government functionaries from India. These delegates include Board members of the CLGF, ministers of Housing and Urban Development from member countries, Mayors and other officials from prominent cities.
The CLGF, as an associated organization officially recognized by Commonwealth Heads of Government, works to promote and strengthen effective democratic local government throughout the Commonwealth and to facilitate the exchange of good practice in local government structures and services. CLGF has more than 160 members in 40 Commonwealth Countries including Local Government Associations, individual Local Authorities and Ministries dealing with Local Government. CLGF draws on the influential network of the Commonwealth that provides a solid basis for its programmes and activities pertaining to policy development, democracy and good governance at local level.
RM/AS
(Release ID :37362)