With a view to increasing gender and the inclusion of disability in urban development, the Building Accessible, Safe and Inclusive Indian Cities (BASIIC) program of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) under the framework of the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in partnership with the United Nations and the Office of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth & Development (FCDO), UK, is organizing a 3-day National Conference on ‘Gender Equality and Disability in Indian Cities’ from 28 April 2022 to 30 April 2022 in India Habitat Center, New Delhi.
The three-day workshop aims to integrate gender and disability into the implementation of the SDGS to ensure a strong, accessible, inclusive, secure and sustainable India for all.
The conclave aims to strengthen India’s commitment to gender mainstreaming in the development of the city in accordance with the Human Rights Act (RPWD) Act 2016, United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons Disabilities (UNCRPD), 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. , The New City Agenda, and the Sendai Framework for advancing India’s ambitious vision of accessibility, inclusion, security, and resilience in India @ 2047.
Supported by the Department of Housing and Urban (MoHUA), the National Conclave will bring together policy makers, academics, the private sector, topic professionals, and startups from across the country to discuss city access and installation challenges, exchange ideas, share technical knowledge and information, and install contribute to the discussion of City’s accessibility and inclusion.
Ms. Lakshmi Puri, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, and former Deputy Executive Director of UN Women will enjoy the event as a keynote speaker. The event will also be attended by Mr. Manoj Joshi, Secretary, MoHUA, Mr. Rajesh Sharma, Joint Secretary, DEPwD, MoSJE, Mr. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, Mr. Shantanu Mitra, Head, Infrastructure & Urban Development, British High and Mr. Hitesh Vaidya, Director of NIUA.
The opening day of the National Conference will mark the launch of the ‘Smart Solution Challenge and Inclusion Award’, inviting new ideas, technologies, products, business solutions and best practices to help solve complex installation and accessibility challenges. The challenge is open to all students, residents, founders, emerging, community-based organizations, urban physicians, Urban Local Bodies, SPVs and project teams under the Smart Cities Mission. Application deadline is 6 June 2022.
A digital toolkit and guide on ‘about’ Inclusive Urban Development, Affordable, Safe, and Strong will also be introduced, which will serve as an accurate accounting tool for urban workers to help embed Universal Design and Inclusive Development goals across all infrastructure and service projects.
Emphasizing the importance of Involvement in the urban environment, Director NIUA- Mr. Hitesh Vaidya said, “NIUA has been developing guidelines, policies, action plans and capacity building in cities to improve inclusion and accessibility for all. I am confident that the launch of the ‘Smart Solution Challenge’ across the country will enable us to identify new solutions, document and implement best practices related to promoting universal access, inclusion, and security ”.
Highlighting the guiding principle of the 2030 Agenda ‘Not to Leave anyone Alone’ and the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, Mr. Shombi Sharp, United Nations Coordinator for India, commented, “Technology is the key to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. However, new community-based initiatives designed and developed by universal design principles that help achieve the 2030 Agenda. The ‘Smart Solutions Challenge and Inclusive Cities Awards’ will help to create and develop an environment for new social inclusion in India to address urban challenges and to appreciate and respect inclusive efforts and projects implemented in Indian cities ”.
An in-depth training workshop will follow on day 2 and 3 of the conference where city participants from all over India will be provided with training to improve their sensitivity, sensitivity, and strength to inclusive urban development.
